LOVE  ME  LITTLE,  LOVE  ME  LONG 


jyC- 


Love  Me  Little 
Love  Me  Long 

By 
CHARLES  READE 


>'" 


•  !  f  >  >  I  % .' 


New  York 

Doubleday,  Page  &  Company 

1907 


Copyright,  1907,  by  Doubleday,  Paoe  &  Company 
PuBUSHED,  October,  1907 


All  Rights  Reserved 

Including  that  of  Translation  into  Foreign  Languages 

Including  the  Scandinavian 


INTRODUCTION 


Charles  Reade  was  not  one  of  those  who  "smile  at  the 
claims  of  long  descent."  It  was  ever  a  source  of  satis- 
faction to  him  that  both  his  paternal  and  maternal 
ancestors  had  been  people  of  consequence  in  England 
since  the  fifteenth  century.  Nevertheless  he  attributes 
his  own  pugnacious  virility  to  a  timely  infusion  of 
peasant  blood  — **  A  piece  of  good  fortune  befell  us  in  the 
last  century.  My  father's  grandfather  married  the 
daughter  of  the  village  blacksmith  and  from  her  we  are 
descended."  More  signiicant  is  his  connection  with 
Major  Scott- Waring,  his  mother's  father,  whose  second 
and  third  wives  were  both  actresses.  A  taste  for  matters 
theatrical  may  have  come  to  Charles  from  that 
side  of  the  house,  but  he  was  indebted  to  his  father  for 
whatever  conservative  virtues  he  possessed,  as  well  as 
for  the  good  height  and  handsome  face  he  inherited 
directly.  But,  like  so  many  men  of  genius,  it  was  from 
his  mother  that  Charles  Reade  derived  those  qualities 
that  brought  him  to  the  notice  of  the  world  at  large. 
This  good  lady  lived  to  be  ninety,  and  to  judge  from 
her  sayings,  preserved  by  her  literary  and  favourite 
son,  she  was  a  woman  of  much  independence  of  thought, 
as  well  as  originality  in  expression.  A  reading  of  these 
notes  makes  it  clear  whence  Charles  Reade  inherited 
his  facility  for  epigrams. 

He  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  children,  seven  sons 
and  four  daughters,  brought  up  in  the  manor  house  of 
Ipsden,  Oxfordshire,  about  seventeen  miles  from  the 

284360 


vi  INTRODUCTION 

town  of  Oxford.  It  was  not  a  very  comfortable  abode, 
we  are  told,  nor  was  the  rearing  of  the  family  of  a  sort 
calculated  to  develop  sybarites.  The  clever  mother 
obtained  civil  service  appointments  for  her  three  oldest 
sons  in  India,  where  her  own  father  had  distinguished 
himself,  and  the  next  two  she  succeeded  in  placing  in 
the  army.  The  two  youngest  she  kept  longer  near  to 
herself,  but  she  was  by  no  means  happy  in  her  choice 
of  their  first  schoolmasters.  Little  Charlie  was  put  into 
trousers  and  sent  off  to  boarding  school  when  but  four 
years  old,  as  a  scattering  of  the  family  was  deemed 
essential  while  the  manor  house  was  being  renovated. 
The  youngest  son  was  kept  away  only  three  months  at 
that  time,  and  for  the  following  three  years  he  enjoyed 
the  privilege  of  being  taught  at  home  by  his  sister 
Julia,  an  exceedingly  clever  as  well  as  beautiful  young 
woman  who  laid  the  foundation  of  her  young  brother's 
taste  for  literature.  When  she  married,  he  was 
again  sent  off,  this  time  to  the  boarding  school  at 
Rose  Hill,  Iffley,  where  his  elder  brothers  had  endured 
merciless  thrashings,  which  they  had  been  too  proud 
to  mention  at  home.  For  five  years,  until  he  was 
thirteen,  Charlie  had  Latin  grammar  beaten  into 
him.  He  understood  nothing  whatever  about  it, 
except  that  failure  to  learn  certain  meaningless  words 
by  rote  meant  coming  under  the  rod  wielded  by  an 
expert  in  cruelty. 

He  was  more  fortunate  in  his  next  instructor,  Mr. 
Hearne,  the  curate  at  Staines,  who  erred  on  the  side  of 
leniency  towards  the  three  or  four  boys  in  his  care,  but 
he  recognised  the  literary  talent  of  one  of  his  pupils 
and  did  his  best  to  foster  it.  After  an  interval  of  two 
years  at  home,  the  time  came  for  Charles  Reade  to  enter 


INTRODUCTION  vii 

into  a  competition  for  a  scholarship  at  Magdalen  Col- 
lege, Oxford,  and  his  essay  upon  *'How  Far  is  Ambition 
Productive  of  Virtue,"  won  the  day.  The  other  can- 
didates proclaimed  ambition  to  be  "a  grievous  sin," 
while  Charles  boldly  pronounced  it  to  be  the  promoter 
of  virtue,  if  not  a  virtue  in  itself. 

It  seems  fitting  that  one  whose  ancestor  had,  in  1460, 
given  stone  from  his  quarry  to  aid  in  the  building  of 
Magdalen  College,  should  hold  so  many  positions  con- 
nected with  that  institution.  From  being  a  "demy"  in 
the  year  1831,  he  advanced  to  a  fellowship  after  his 
graduation  in  1835,  was  Vinerian  reader  through  win- 
ning a  law  scholarship  open  to  the  whole  university  in 
1842,  became  Dean  of  Arts  in  1845,  and  Vice  President  of 
Magdalen  in  1851.  He  retained  a  pleasantly  located 
suite  of  five  rooms  in  that  college,  but  it  was  never  his 
heart's  home,  for  he  had  few  friends  there,  owing  per- 
haps to  the  family  preference,  or  to  the  canvassing 
whereby  he  was  said  to  have  attained  his  different  hon- 
ours, though  his  own  combative  disposition  may  have 
been  to  blame.  In  any  case,  the  little  world  of  Oxford  was 
too  small  for  one  who  was  destined  to  become  a  serious 
student  of  human  nature,  if  not  a  serious  student  of 
law.  He  entered  at  Lincoln's  Inn,  however,  and  was 
called  to  the  bar  in  1843,  but  the  life  of  London  town, 
supplemented  by  gay  excursions  into  the  life  of  Paris, 
gave  him  the  training  he  required  at  this  stage  of  his 
career.  It  was  necessary  for  him  to  have  a  profession 
of  some  sort  and  he  had  considered  that  of  medicine,  but 
one  visit  to  the  operating  room  sufficed  to  put  that  out 
of  the  question,  for  he  fainted  at  the  sight  of  blood. 
His  mother  would  fain  have  made  him  a  bishop,  but 
the    Church   had    no    charms   for   Charles,   who  was 


viii  INTRODUCTION 

inclined  to  agnosticism  in  his  youth.  Therefore  the 
Law  alone  remained. 

The  periodical  trips  to  the  Continent  were  often  util- 
ised in  the  search  for  old  violins,  Cremonas  in  particular. 
He  played  the  fiddle  not  badly  and  was  ever  a  lover  of 
melody,  not  a  disciple  of  the  Wagnerian  school  of  music. 
The  violin  craze  that  made  him  known  as  a  connois- 
seur on  the  subject,  and  led  to  his  becoming  a  buyer 
and  seller  of  old  instruments,  was  very  distasteful  to 
his  father,  the  dignified  country  gentleman  at  Ipsden 
House.  On  one  occasion  Charles  placed  to  dry  upon 
his  window-sill  some  violins  upon  which  he  had  been 
experimenting  with  a  particular  sort  of  varnish,  which 
dissolved,  ran  down  and  wofully  streaked  the  white 
front  of  the  family  mansion.  The  reckless  Charlie 
suffered  six  months'  banishment  from  home  for  this 
offence,  but  in  his  latter  days  his  father  came  to  tolerate, 
even  to  enjoy  the  violin  playing,  if  not  the  perpetual 
talk  about  old  instruments,  just  as  his  wife  learned  to 
tolerate  cards  in  the  house  when  she  saw  her  youngest 
son  playing  cribbage  with  his  invalid  father,  who  passed 
away  in  1849. 

It  was  the  pursuit  of  old  violins  that  took  Charles  to 
Paris  in  1848,  and  there  he  saw  enough  of  the  massacres 
at  the  barricades  to  be  thankful  to  make  his  escape  in 
the  blouse  of  the  friendly  barber  in  whose  house 
he  had  been  lodging.  He  thought  he  had  lost  a 
valuable  consignment  of  violins  in  the  melee,  but  they 
turned  up,  safe  and  sound,  in  a  cellar  after  the  revolu- 
tion was  over.  An  athletic  man,  one  who  owned  a  life- 
long devotion  to  out-of-door  sport  —  cricket,  bowling, 
skittles,  tennis,  archery,  shooting,  fishing  and  tramping 
—  Charles  Reade  had  not  the  kind  of  adventurous  spirit 


INTRODUCTION  ix 

that  would  lead  him  to  seek  out  horrors.  He  delighted 
in  reducing  to  extremities  the  people  of  his  brain,  but 
neither  personally  nor  in  his  books  did  he  ever  display 
a  morbid  taste  for  the  gruesome.  Everything  he  wrote 
was  thoroughly  wholesome  in  tone,  as  became  the  pro- 
ductions of  a  well-educated  English  gentleman,  one  who 
could  not  be  an  out  and  out  Bohemian  because  he  had  a 
weakness  for  clean  linen. 

To  make  up  for  his  lack  of  first  hand  experience  in 
many  of  the  walks  of  life  he  wished  to  exploit,  Reade 
accumulated  an  enormous  mass  of  material — bluebooks, 
notes  of  conversations,  original  observations  on  people 
and  events,  excerpts  from  newspapers  or  magazines  — 
all  of  which  he  arranged  in  huge  note  books  or  ledgers 
systematically  indexed.  His  manner  of  working  is  thus 
described  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Johnston — "When  he  was 
writing  a  novel,  he  arranged  in  parallel  columns,  on 
thick  pasteboard  cards,  each  about  the  size  of  a  large 
portfolio,  all  the  facts,  incidents,  living  dialogues, 
reflections,  and  situations  that  he  intended  to  use  in  the 
book."  The  method  may  be  condemned  as  mechanical, 
but  a  truly  original  mind  is  not  subject  to  literary  in- 
digestion, and  this  plan  of  procedure  certainly  gave  a 
touch  of  realism  to  some  of  Reade's  most  improbable 
plots.  His  books  bristle  with  facts,  with  action,  and 
his  characters  reveal  themselves  in  dialogue  so  com- 
pletely that  no  analysis  by  the  author  is  required.  He 
used  to  ruminate  upon  his  themes  while  out  walking,  and 
would  then  come  in  to  dash  off  the  result  in  handwriting 
that  nobody  but  himself  and  his  copyist  could  read. 
Punch  published  a  story  about  a  compositor  throwing 
himself  over  Waterloo  Bridge  because  he  could  not 
decipher  Charles  Reade's  manuscript. 


X  INTRODUCTION 

It  was  as  a  dramatist  that  he  ever  strove  to  shine,  for 
he  had  been  writing  plays  since  he  could  write  at  all. 
About  a  dozen  of  these  never  were  acted,  and  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  some  of  the  later  ones  would  not  have  been  put 
upon  the  boards  had  it  not  been  for  the  fame  of  the 
author  as  a  novelist,  if  not  for  the  popularity  already 
achieved  by  the  story  before  it  was  dramatised.  For 
example,  "It's  Never  too  Late  to  Mend"  was  produced 
as  a  four-act  drama  at  Leeds  ten  years  after  its  publica- 
tion as  a  novel;  'Toul  Play,"  ** Griffith  Gaunt,"  "Put 
Yourself  in  His  Place,"  and  "The  Wandering  Heir" 
were  all  dramatised,  though  it  is  never  as  plays  that  we 
hear  of  them  now.  Reade  needed  a  collaborator  to 
bring  him  success  as  a  dramatist  and  he  obtained  an 
efficient  one  in  the  person  of  Tom  Taylor,  with  whom 
he  wrote  many  plays  but  none  so  famous  as  the  first 
joint  effort,  "Masks  and  Faces,"  a  two-act  comedy 
produced  at  the  Haymarket  Theatre  in  1852.  The 
previous  year  two  of  his  plays  had  been  performed  at 
the  Olympic  without  creating  any  great  stir,  and  being 
doubtful  of  the  success  of  his  third  ejffort  Reade  called 
upon  Mrs.  Laura  Seymour,  a  popular  actress  of  the  day, 
asking  her  opinion  of  "Masks  and  Faces,"  while  it  was 
still  at  the  rehearsal  stage.  She  received  him  graciously, 
read  the  manuscript  which  he  had  brought  with  him, 
and  then  asked  him  why  he  did  not  turn  the  play  into 
a  novel.  He  accepted  the  suggestion,  but  not  the  loan 
of  the  five-pound  note  she  sent  after  him  in  a  letter, 
imagining  him  to  be  the  ordinary  type  of  needy  gentle- 
man author. 

Reade  appreciated  the  good  will  of  the  donor,  and  on 
returning  the  money  in  person  he  had  a  still  more  satis- 
factory talk  with  Mrs.  Seymour,  the  beginning  of  a 


INTRODUCTION 


XI 


friendship  that  lasted  the  rest  of  their  lives.  Charles 
Reade  doubtless  idealised  the  lady,  who  was  neither 
the  great  actress  nor  the  brilliant  woman  of  the  world 
that  he  considered  her,  nor  even  a  capable  housekeeper, 
but  she  was  to  him  the  much-needed  shrewd,  kindly 
critic,  with  a  genius  for  bargain  driving  which  he  never 
possessed.  He  was  perhaps  inclined  to  over-estimate 
the  value  of  his  productions  and  to  think  that  he  re- 
received  too  little  for  them,  but  he  gained  nothing  by 
entering  into  lawsuits  on  the  subject.  For  instance,  he 
was  paid  only  thirty  pounds  each  for  his  first  two  novels, 
but  the  cost  of  calling  in  the  law  to  assist  him  in  getting 
more  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  twenty  pounds. 
He  was  long  in  learning  wisdom,  and  the  fact  of  his 
being  a  lawyer  himself  made  him  only  too  prone  to 
legal  adventures. 

Even  before  "Masks  and  Faces"  was  put  upon  the 
boards  in  1852,  Reade  had  finished  the  novel  made  from 
the  same  story,  "Peg  WoflSngton,"  which  came  out  the 
next  year.  From  that  time  until  the  publication  of  his 
masterpiece,  "The  Cloister  and  the  Hearth,"  in  1861, 
he  produced  five  novels,  of  which  "Love  me  Little, 
Love  me  Long,"  is  notable  as  being  a  love  story  only. 
It  was  designed  simply  to  amuse,  not  to  expose  a  crying 
social  evil  as  in  the  case  of  "It's  Never  too  Late  to 
Mend,"  which  aimed  at  the  reformation  of  prison  con- 
ditions in  England  and  Australia.  The  success  of  his 
first  altruistic  essay  stimulated  Reade  into  further 
efforts  for  the  good  of  humanity.  A  born  fighter,  it 
was  the  best  thing  for  himself  that  he  should  find  an 
outlet  for  his  pugnacity  in  not  unsuccessful  attempts  at 
the  righting  of  wrongs.  "Hard  Cash"  exposes  the 
infamous  way  in  which  the  lunatics  of  that  day  were 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

treated  in  asylums;  "Foul  Play"  illustrates  the  iniquity 
of  the  ship-owners  who  send  out  rotten  boats  to  be 
scuttled  or  wrecked  for  the  sake  of  the  insurance,  while 
**Put  Yourself  in  His  Place"  wages  war  against  illegal 
trades-unions.  Any  one  of  these  can  still  be  read  with 
pleasure  for  the  sake  of  the  story  alone,  for,  apart  from 
his  terse,  vigorous  English,  Reade  has  the  faculty  of 
chaining  attention  by  keeping  the  reader  always  on  the 
qui  vive  about  what  is  to  happen  next. 

He  said  of  himself ,'*  I  am  like  Goldsmith  and  others^ 
I  shall  blossom  late,"  and  in  truth  he  was  almost  forty 
years  of  age  before  he  had  discovered  his  sphere  —  the 
writing  of  fiction  —  though  to  the  last  he  hoped  to  be 
remembered  chiefly  as  a  dramatist,  and  he  left  instruc- 
tions about  the  word  that  was  to  be  placed  first  in  his 
final   characterisation,   upon   coflin   and   tombstone  — 

"Charles  Reade 
Dramatist,  Novelist,  and  Journalist." 

He  regarded  ^'Griflith  Gaunt"  as  the  best  of  his 
books,  probably  because  the  writing  of  it  cost  him  more 
labour,  since  it  is  more  subjective,  more  of  a  character 
study  than  any  of  his  other  novels.  He  never  appre- 
ciated the  analytical,  introspective  quality  of  George 
Eliot's  work,  but  he  had  a  warm  personal  regard  for 
Dickens,  both  as  man  and  author,  and  he  held  Thack- 
eray also  in  high  esteem. 

That  the  novels  of  Charles  Reade  could  hold  their 
own  when  the  masterpieces  of  these  writers,  and  those 
also  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  were  claiming  public  attention 
speaks  well  for  the  permanency  of  their  place  in  English 
literature. 

The  men  and  women  who  knew  him  personally  are 
naturally  growing  fewer  as  the  years  go  by,  but  there  are 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

still  left  those  who  remember  the  undergraduate  at 
Oxford  who  allowed  his  hair  to  grow  into  longish  curls, 
and  who  was  more  fond  of  dancing  to  his  own  fiddling 
than  of  attending  lectures,  though  he  neither  smoked 
nor  drank.  Goldwin  Smith  was  scandalised  that  a 
Dean  of  Arts,  responsible  for  the  deportment  of  students, 
should  sport  a  bright  green  coat  with  brass  buttons,  but 
women  were  ever  more  tolerant  and  it  is  no  wonder  that 
Reade  preferred  their  society  to  that  of  men.  Ellen 
Terry  thus  speaks  of  him  — 

*'Dear,  lovable,  childlike,  crafty,  gentle,  obstinate, 
entirely  delightful  and  interesting  Charles  Reade." 

A  man  of  his  birth  and  attainments,  with  his  good 
looks  and  personal  charm  in  conversation,  was  always 
welcome  in  society,  but  he  was  too  busy  with  his  writing 
to  care  much  for  the  doings  of  the  outside  world.  He 
had  a  fancy  for  keeping  tame  animals  about  him  — 
squirrels,  hares,,  dogs  and  even  a  gazelle  —  that  probably 
took  the  place  of  children  to  him.  He  could  not  marry 
without  giving  up  his  Magdalen  fellowship,  which  for 
many  long  years  was  his  chief  means  of  support.  He 
lived  for  nineteen  years  in  the  same  house  with  Mrs. 
Seymour,  his  devoted  friend.  Her  husband  was  alive 
at  the  beginning  of  this  arrangement,  and  two  of  his 
men  friends  and  Charles  Reade  entered  into  coopera- 
tive housekeeping  in  the  home  on  Jermyn  Street,  a 
pleasant  exchange  to  the  novelist  for  his  lodgings  in 
Leicester  Square.  One  of  this  household  in  course  of 
time  left  town,  and  Mr.  Seymour  died,  but  his  widow 
continued  to  keep  house  for  Charles  Reade  and  the 
other  member  until  another  death  in  the  house  left  her 
and  Reade  alone.  They  talked  of  separation,  out  of 
regard  to  Mrs.   Grundy,  but  they  were  both  elderly 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

people  by  this  time  and  Mrs.  Seymour  remained  at  the 
head  of  Reade's  household  until  she  died.  Just  how 
much  she  had  been  to  him  is  told  in  the  epitaph  he 
wrote  for  her  — 

"Here  lies  the  great  heart  of  Laura  Seymour,  a 
brilliant  artist,  a  humble  Christian,  a  charitable  woman, 
a  loving  daughter,  sister,  and  friend,  who  lived  for 
others  from  her  childhood.  Tenderly  pitiful  to  all 
God's  creatures,  even  to  some  that  are  frequently 
destroyed  or  neglected,  she  wiped  away  the  tears  from 
many  faces,  helping  the  poor  with  her  savings,  and  the 
sorrowful  with  her  earnest  pity.  When  the  eye  saw  her 
it  blessed  her,  for  her  face  was  sunshine,  her  voice  was 
melody,  and  her  heart  was  sympathy.  Truth  could 
say  more,  and  Sorrow  pines  to  enlarge  upon  her  virtues ; 
but  this  would  ill  accord  with  her  humility,  who  justly 
disclaimed  them  all  and  relied  only  on  the  merits  of  her 
Redeemer.  After  months  of  acute  suffering,  bowing 
with  gentle  resignation,  and  with  sorrow  for  those  who 
were  to  lose  her,  not  for  herself,  she  was  released  from 
her  burden,  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  September  27th, 
1879.  'Blessed  are  the  merciful  for  they  shall  obtain 
mercy'  (Matt.  v.  7).  This  grave  was  made  for  her  and 
for  himself  by  Charles  Reade,  whose  wise  counsellor, 
loyal  ally  and  bosom  friend  she  was  for  twenty-four 
years,  and  who  mourns  her  all  his  days." 

The  novelist  survived  Mrs.  Seymour  five  years,  but  he 
could  not  endure  living  without  her  in  the  house  at 
Albert  Gate,  facing  Sloane  Street,  where  the  happiest 
twelve  years  of  his  life  had  been  spent.  Even  the  study, 
the  large  room  built  out  at  the  back  especially  for  him, 
failed  to  chain  him.  He  passed  more  and  more  of  his 
time  with  the  family  of  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Compton 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

Reade,  and  finally  went  to  live  altogether  at  his  house 
in  Shepherd's  Bush.  John  Coleman,  the  actor,  tells 
of  his  appearance  in  his  latter  days  —  "He  had  not 
looked  so  bright  and  cheerful  for  ever  so  long.  Age 
became  him  that  day  —  his  eyes  were  sparkling,  his 
cheeks  a  little  flushed  —  his  white  beard  and  silky  white 
hair  gave  him  a  dignified  and  patriarchal  appearance. 
His  dress,  too,  was  singularly  striking.  He  wore  a 
large  sealskin  coat,  sealskin  gloves,  and  his  usual  som- 
brero. Round  his  neck  was  a  large  soft  muffler  of 
white  silk." 

Shortly  after  this  he  went  abroad  for  his  health,  but 
came  home  only  to  die  in  his  brother's  house  at  Shep- 
herd's Bush,  April  11th,  1884,  aged  seventy.  He  had 
long  since  parted  with  the  doubts  of  his  youth  and 
arrived  at  the  stage  depicted  in  Pope's  lines  — 

**  Hope  humbly  then,  on  trembling  pinions  soar: 
Wait  the  great  teacher,  Death,  and  God  adore!" 

For  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  he  had  been  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  partly  through  increase  in 
the  value  of  his  fellowship,  but  chiefly  through  returns 
from  his  literary  work.  He  was  therefore  in  a  position 
to  indulge  in  the  generous  proclivities  wherewith  Miss 
Braddon,  the  novelist,  credits  him — "He  had  a  chival- 
rous and  protecting  spirit  in  all  his  dealings  with  women, 
or  with  the  weak;  the  same  spirit  which  so  often  urged 
him  to  fight  on  the  losing  side,  and  to  bring  to  bear  all 
the  power  of  his  fiery  pen  in  the  cause  of  the  fallen  or 
the  oppressed.  He,  who  in  public  life  was  the  fiercest 
of  foes  and  partisans,  where  wrong  or  injustice  had  to 
be  encountered,  was  in  domestic  life  the  gentlest,  meek- 
est, loveliest  spirit;  the  ideal  gentleman  and  Christian, 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

full  to  overflowing  of  that  charity  which  suffereth  long 

and  is  kind His  house  was  a  refuge  for  the 

destitute  and  the  unhappy.  To  be  in  trouble  was  a  pass- 
port to  Charles  Reade's  hospitality."  Two  of  his  books 
were  published  after  his  death  —  "The  Jilt  and  Other 
Tales,"  1884;  *'Good  Stories  of  Man  and  Other 
Animals,"  1884. 

Jean  N.  McIlwraith. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


The  Novels  of  Charles  Reade: — Peg  WofEngton,  1852;  Christie  Johnstone,  1853; 
It's  Never  too  Late  to  Mend,  1856;  White  Lies  or.  The  Double  Marriage,  1857; 
A  Good  Fight,  1858;  Love  Me  Little,  Love  Me  Long,  1859;  The  Eighth  Com- 
-  mandment,  i860;  The  Cloister  and  the  Heariih,  1861 ;  Hard  Cash,  1863;  Griffith 
Gaunt,  1866;  Foul  Play  (with  Boucicault),  1868;  Put  Yourself  in  His  Place, 
1870;  Terrible  Temptation,  1871;  The  Wandering  Heir,  1872;  A  Simpleton, 
1872;  A  Woman  Hater,  1877;  Singleheart  and  Doubleface,  1882;  A  Perilous 
Secret,  1883. 

Readiana: — Comments  on  Current  Events,  by  C.  Reade.     London:     Chatto    & 
Windus,  1883. 

Modern  Leaders.     Justin  McCarthy.     Charles  Reade,  pp.  192-201.     New  York: 

Sheldon  &  Company,  1872. 
London  Times,  12th  and  i6th  of  April,  1884. 
AthencBum,  19th  April,  1884. 
Illustrated  London  News,  26th  April,  1884. 
Fortnightly  Review,  October,  1884. 
Swinburne's  Miscellanies,  1886,  pp.  271-302. 
Charles  Reade,  D.  C.  L.,  A  Memoir  Compiled  Chiefly  from  His  Literary  Remains. 

Charles  L.  Reade  and  the  Rev.  Compton  Reade.     Harper  &  Brothers,  New 

York,  1887. 
Charies  Reade  and  His  Books.     W.  J.  Johnston.     Gentleman's  Magazine,  October 

1898. 
Charles  Reade  as  I  Knew  Him.     John  Coleman.     New  York:     E.  P.  Button  & 

Company,  1903. 
Bloxam's  Magdalen.  College  Register,  Vol.  VII. 
Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  9th  Edition,  pp.  302-303. 
Dictionary  of  National  Biography, Vol.  47,  pp.  354-358.    Charles  Reade,  by  Charles 

Kent. 


LOVE  ME  LITTLE,  LOVE  ME  LONG 


CHAPTER  I 

NEARLY  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  Lucy  Foun- 
tain, a  young  lady  of  beauty  and  distinction, 
was  by  the  death  of  her  mother,  her  sole  surviving 
parent,  left  in  the  hands  of  her  two  trustees,  Edward 
Fountain,  Esq.,  of  Font  Abbey,  and  Mr.  Bazalgette,  a 
merchant,  whose  wife  was  Mrs.  Fountain's  half  sister. 

They  agreed  to  lighten  the  burden  by  dividing  it. 
She  should  spend  half  the  year  with  each  trustee  in 
turn,  until  marriage  should  take  her  off  their  hands. 

Our  mild  tale  begins  in  Mr.  Bazalgette's  house  two 
years  after  the  date  of  that  arrangement. 

The  chit-chat  must  be  your  main  clue  to  the  char- 
acters. In  life  it  is  the  same.  Men  and  women  won't 
come  to  you  ticketed,  or  explanation  in  hand. 

*'Lucy,  you  are  a  great  comfort  in  a  house:  it  is  so 
nice  to  have  some  one  to  pour  out  one's  heart  to;  my 
husband  is  no  use  at  all." 

"Aunt  Bazalgette!" 

"In  that  way.  You  listen  to  my  faded  illusiojis,  to 
the  aspirations  of  a  nature  too  finely  organised,  ah!  to 
find  its  happiness  in  this  rough  selfish  world — when  I 
open  my  bosom  to  him,  what  does  he  do.^  guess  now 
— whistles." 

"Then  I  call  that  rude." 

"So  do  I,  and  then  he  whistles  more  and  more," 

"Yes;  but,  aunt,  if  any  serious  trouble  or  grief  fell 
upon  you,  you  would  find  Mr.  Bazalgette  a  much  greater 
comfort  and  a  better  stay  than  poor  spiritless  me," 

1 


V 


2  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

v;  ''*,Gh,  if  tLe  Kouse  took  fire  and  fell  about  our  ears, 
he  would  come  out  of  his  shell,  no  doubt;  or  if  the 
children  all  died  one  after  another,  poor  dear  little  souls; 
but  those  great  troubles  only  come  in  stories.  Give  me 
a  friend  that  can  sympathise  with  the  real  hourly  morti- 
fications of  a  too  susceptible  nature.  Sit  on  this  otto- 
man, and  let  me  go  on:  where  was  I  when  Jones  came 
and  interrupted  us  ?  they  always  do  just  at  the  inter- 
esting point." 

Miss  Fountain's  face  promptly  wreathed  itself  into 
an  expectant  smile;  she  abandoned  her  hand  and  her 
ear,  and  leaned  her  graceful  person  toward  her  aunt, 
while  that  lady  murmured  to  her  in  low  and  thrilling 
tones — his  eyes,  his  long  hair,  his  imaginative  expres- 
sions, his  romantic  projects  of  frugal  love;  how  her 
harsh  papa  had  warned  Adonis  off  the  premises;  how 
Adonis  went  without  a  word  (as  pale  as  death,  love!), 
and  soon  after  in  his  despair  flung  himself — to  an  ugly 
heiress,  and  how  this  disappointment  had  darkened 
her  whole  life,  and  so  on. 

Perhaps  if  Adonis  had  stood  before  her  now,  rolling 
his  eyes,  and  his  phrases  hot  from  the  annuals,  the 
flourishing  matron  might  have  sent  him  to  the  servants' 
hall  with  a  wave  of  her  white  and  jewelled  hand.  But 
the  melody  disarms  this  sort  of  brutal  criticism.  A 
woman's  voice  relating  love's  young  dream;  and  then 
the  picture:  a  matron  still  handsome  pouring  into  a 
lovely  virgin's  ear  the  last  thing  she  ought;  the  young 
beauty's  eyes  mimicking  sympathy;  the  ripe  beauty's 
soft  delicious  accents — purr!  purr!  purr! 

Crash  overhead!  A  window  smashed!  Aie,  aie! 
clatter!  clatter!  screams  of  infantine  rage  and  feminine 
remonstrance,  feet  pattering,   and   a  general  hullah- 


LOVE  ME  LONG  3 

baloo,  cut  the  soft  recital  in  two.  The  ladies  unclasped 
hands  like  guilty  things  surprised. 

Lucy  sprang  to  her  feet.  The  oppressed  one  sank 
slowly  and  gracefully  back  inch  by  inch  on  the  otto- 
man with  a  sigh  of  ostentatious  resignation,  and  gazed 
martyr-like  on  the  chandelier. 

"Will  you  not  go  up  to  the  nursery .?"  cried  Lucy  in 
a  flutter. 

"No  dear,"  replied  the  other  faintly,  but  as  cool  as  a 
marble  slab;  *'you  go,  cast  some  of  your  oil  upon  those 
ever  troubled  waters,  and  then  come  back  and  let  us 
try  once  more." 

Miss  Fountain  heard  but  half  this  sentence — she 
was  already  gliding  up  the  stairs.  She  opened  the 
nursery  door,  and  there  stood  in  the  middle  of  the 
room,  "Original  Sin."  Its  name  after  the  flesh  was 
Master  Reginald;  it  was  half -past  six,  had  been  bap- 
tised in  church,  after  which  every  child  becomes,  ac- 
cording to  certain  polemic  divines  of  the  day,  "a  little 
soul  of  Christian  fire,"  until  it  goes  to  a  public  school. 
And  there  it  straddled — two  scarlet  cheeks  puffed  out 
with  rage,  soft  flaxen  hair  streaming,  cerulean  eyes 
glowing,  the  poker  grasped  in  two  chubby  fists;  it  had 
poked  a  window  in  vague  ire,  and  now  threatened  two 
females  with  extinction  if  they  riled  it  any  more. 

The  two  grown-up  women  were  discovered,  erect 
but  flat  in  distant  corners,  avoiding  the  bayonet  and 
trusting  to  their  artillery. 

"Wicked  boy!" 

"Naughty  boy!"  (Grape.) 

"Little  rufl5an,&c.!"  J 

And  hints  as  to  the  ultimate  destination  of  so  san- 
guinary a  soul.     (Round  shot). 


4  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Ah,  here's  miss.  Oh!  miss,  we  are  so  glad  you  are 
come  up.     Don't  go  a  nigh  him,  miss;  he  is  a  tiger." 

Miss  Fountain  smiled,  and  went  gracefully  on  one 
knee  beside  him;  this  brought  her  angelic  face  level 
with  the  fallen  cherub's.  *'What  is  the  matter,  dear.?" 
asked  she,  in  a  tone  of  soft  pity. 

The  tiger  was  not  prepared  for  this;  he  dropped 
his  poker  and  flung  his  little  arms  round  his  cousin's 
neck. 

"I  love  YOU.     Oh!  oh!  oh!" 

'*Yes,  dear:  then  tell  me  now,  what  is  the  matter? 
What  have  you  been  doing  ?" 

*'Noth  —  noth  —  nothing;  it's  th  —  them  been  na  — 
a  —  agging  me!" 

*' Nagging  you  .?"  and  she  smiled  at  the  word  and  a 
tiger's  horror  of  it.  "Who  has  been  nagging  you,  love .?" 

"Th  — those  — bit  — bit  — it."  The  word*  was 
unfortunately  lost  in  a  sob.  It  was  followed  by  red 
faces  and  two  simultaneous  yells  of  remonstrance  and 
objurgation. 

"I  must  ask  you  to  be  silent  a  minute,"  said  Miss 
Fountain  quietly.  "Reginald,  what  do  you  mean  by 
—by— nagging  .?"^ 

Reginald  explained.  "By  nagging  he  meant — why — 
nagging." 

"Well,  then,  what  had  they  been  doing  to  him.?" 

"No!"  poor  Reginald  was  not  analytical,  dialectical 
and  critical,  like  certain  pedanticules  who  figure  in 
story  as  children.  He  was  a  terrible  infant,  not  a  hor- 
rible one. 

"They  won't  fight —  and  they  won't  make  it  up,  and 
they  keep  nagging,"  was  all  could  be  got  out  of  him. 

♦Bit-ter  bad  bargains. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  5 

"Come  with  me,  dear,"  said  Lucy  gravely.  "Yes," 
assented  the  tiger  softly,  and  went  out  awestruck,  hold- 
ing her  hand  and  paddling  three  steps  to  each  of  her 
serpentine  glides. 

Seated  in  her  own  room,  tiger  at  knee,  she  tried  topics 
of  admonition;  during  these  his  eyes  wandered  about 
the  room  in  search  of  matter  more  amusing,  so  she  was 
obliged  to  bring  up  her  reserve. 

"And  no  young  lady  will  ever  marry  you." 

"  I  don't  want  them  to,  cousin.  I  would  n't  let  them ; 
you  will  marry  me,  because  you  promised." 

"Did  I.?" 

"  Why,  you  know  you  did,  upon  your  honour:  and  no 
lady  or  gentleman  ever  breaks  their  word  when  they 
say  that;  you  told  me  so  yourself,"  added  he  of  the 
inconvenient  memory. 

"Ah,  but  there  is  another  rule  that  I  forgot  to  tell 
you." 

"What  is  that.?" 

"That  no  lady  ever  marries  a  gentleman  who  has  a 
violent  temper." 

"Oh,  don't  they?" 

"No,  they  would  be  afraid.  If  you  had  a  wife,  and 
took  up  the  poker,  she  would  faint  away — and  die, 
perhaps." 

"Oh,  dear!" 

"I  should." 

"  But,  cousin,  you  would  not  want  the  poker  taken  to 
you — you  never  nag." 

"Perhaps  that  is  because  we  are  not  married  yet." 

"What,  then,  when  we  are,  shall  you  turn  like  the 
others.?" 

"Impossible  to  say." 


6  LOVE  ME  LITTEE, 

"Well,  then"  (after  a  moment's  hesitation),  '*I'll 
marry  you  all  the  same." 

"No!  you  forget,  I  shall  be  afraid  until  your  temper 
mends." 

**I  '11  mend  it.  It  is  mended  now.  See  how  good 
I  am  now,"  added  he,  with  self -admiration  and  a  shade 
of  surprise. 

"I  don't  call  this  mending  it,  for  I  am  not  the  one 
that  offended  you;  mending  it  is  promising  me  never, 
never  to  call  naughty  names  again — how  would  you 
like  to  be  called  a  puppy-dog.?" 

"I'd  kill  'em." 

"  There,  you  see !  then  how  can  you  expect  poor  nurse 
to  like  it.?" 

"You  don't  understand,  cousin.  Tom  said  to 
George  the  groom  that  Mrs.  Jones  was  an — old — 
stingy " 

"I  don't  want  to  hear  anything  about  Tom." 

"He  is  such  a  clever  fellow,  cousin.  So  I  think 
if  Jones  is  an  old  one,  those  two  that  keep  nagging 
me  must  be  young  ones.  What  do  you  think  your- 
self.?" asked  Reginald,  appealing  suddenly  to  her 
candour. 

"And  no  doubt  it  was  Tom  that  taught  you  this  other 
vulgar  word  'nagging,'"  was  the  evasive  reply. 

"No,  that  was  mamma." 

Lucy  coloured,  wheeled  quickly,  and  demanded 
severely  of  the  terrible  infant,    "Who  is  this  Tom.?" 

"What,  don't  you  know  Tom.?"  Reginald  began 
to  lose  a  grain  of  his  respect  for  her.  "Why,  he  helps 
in  the  stables;  oh,  cousin,  he  is  such  a  nice  fellow." 

"Reginald,  I  shall  never  marry  you  if  you  keep  com- 
pany with  grooms,  and  speak  their  language." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  7 

"Well!"  sighed  the  victim,  *'I'll  give  up  Tom  sooner 
than  you." 

**  Thank  you,  dear ;  now  I  am  flattered.  One  struggle 
more:  we  must  go  together  and  ask  the  nurses' 
pardons." 

"Must  we.?  ugh!" 

"Yes — and  kiss  them — and  make  it  up." 

Reginald  made  a  wry  face;  but,  after  a  pause  of 
solemn  reflection,  he  consented,  on  condition  that  Lucy 
would  keep  near  him  and  kiss  him  directly  afterward. 

"I  shall  be  sure  to  do  that,  because  you  will  be  a  good 
boy  then." 

Outside  the  door  Reginald  paused.  "I  have  a 
favour  to  ask  you,  cousin — a  great  favour.  You  see  I 
am  very  little,  and  you  are  so  big;  now  the  husband 
ought  to  be  the  biggest." 

"Quite  my  own  opinion,  Reggy." 

"Well,  dear,  now  if  you  would  be  so  kind  as  not  to 
grow  any  older  till  I  catch  you  up,  I  shall  be  so  very, 
very,  very  much  obliged  to  you,  dear." 

"I  will  try,  Reggy.  Twenty  is  a  very  good  age.  I 
will  stay  there  as  long  as  my  friends  will  let  me." 

"Thank  you,  cousin." 

"But  that  is  not  what  we  have  in  hand." 

The  nurses  were  just  agreeing  what  a  shame  it  was 
of  miss  to  take  that  little  vagabond's  part  against  them, 
when  she  opened  the  door.  "Nurse,  here  is  a  penitent, 
a  young  gentleman  who  is  never  going  to  use  rude  words, 
or  be  violent  and  naughty  again." 

"La,  miss,  why,  it  is  witchcraft — the  dear  child — 
soon  up,  and  soon  down,  as  a  boy  should." 

"Beg  par'n,  nurse;  beg  par'n,  Kitty,"  recited  the 
dear  child,  late  tiger,  and  kissed  them  both  hastily;  and, 


8  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  double  formula  gone  through,  ran  to  Miss  Fountain 
and  kissed  her  with  warmth,  while  the  nurses  were 
reciting  **  little  angel,"  *'all  heart,"    &c. 

"To  take  the  taste  out  of  my  mouth,"  explained  the 
penitent,  and  was  left  with  his  propitiated  females — 
and  did  n't  they  nag  him  at  short  intervals  until  sunset! 
But,  strong  in  the  contemplation  of  his  future  union 
with  cousin  Lucy,  this  great  heart  in  a  little  body 
despised  the  pins  and  needles  that  had  goaded  him  to 
fury  before. 

Lucy  went  down  to  the  drawing-room.  She  found 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  leaning  with  one  elbow  on  the  table, 
her  hand  shading  her  high  polished  forehead;  her  grave 
face  reflected  great  mental  power  taxed  to  the  utter- 
most.    So  Newton  looked,  solving  Nature. 

Miss  Fountain  came  in  full  of  the  nursery  business, 
but  catching  sight  of  so  much  mind  in  labour,  approached 
it  with  silent  curiosity. 

The  oracle  looked  up  with  an  absorbed  air,  and 
delivered  itself  very  slowly,  with  eye  turned  inward. 

"I  am  afraid — I  don't  think — I  quite  like  my  new 
dress." 

'*That  is  unfortunate." 

**That  would  not  matter;  I  never  like  anything  till  I 
have  altered  it;  but  here  is  Baldwin  has  just  sent  me 
word  that  her  mother  is  dying  and  she  can't  undertake 
any  work  for  a  week.  Provoking — could  n't  the  woman 
die  just  as  well  after  the  ball.^" 

"Oh,  aunt!" 

"And  my  maid  has  no  more  taste  than  an  owl.  What 
on  earth  am  I  to  do.?" 

"Wear  another  dress." 

"What  other  can  I.?" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  9 

**  Nothing  can  be  prettier  than  your  white  mow55e/m^- 
de-soie  with  the  tartan  trimming." 

"No;  I  have  worn  that  at  four  balls  already;  I  won't 
be  known  by  my  colours  like  a  bird.  I  have  made  up 
my  mind  to  wear  the  jaune,  and  I  will  in  spite  of  them 
all;  that  is  if  I  can  find  anybody  who  cares  enough  for 
me  to  try  it  on  and  tell  me  what  it  wants."  Lucy 
offered  at  once  to  go  with  her  to  her  room,  and  try  it  on. 

"No,  no,  it  is  so  cold  there — we  will  doit  hereby  the 
fire.  You  will  find  it  in  the  large  wardrobe,  dear — 
mind  how  you  carry  it,  Lucy! — lots  of  pins." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  then  rang  the  bell  and  told  the  ser- 
vant to  say  she  was  out  if  any  one  called — no  matter  who. 

Meantime  Lucy,  impressed  with  the  gravity  of  her 
oflSce,  took  the  dress  carefully  down  from  the  pegs ;  and 
as  it  would  have  been  death  to  crease  it,  and  destruction 
to  let  its  hem  sweep  against  any  of  the  inferior  forms  of 
matter,  she  came  down  the  stairs  and  into  the  room, 
holding  this  female  weapon  of  destruction  as  high 
above  her  head  as  Judith  waves  the  sword  of  Holo- 
fernes  in  Etty's  immortal  picture. 

The  other  had  just  found  time  to  loosen  her  dress 
and  lock  one  of  the  doors;  she  now  locked  the  other  and 
the  rites  began.     Well II?? 

"It  fits  you  like  a  glove." 

"Really  ?  tell  the  truth  now;  it  is  a  sin  to  tell  a  story 
— about  a  new  gown — what  a  nuisance  one  can't  see 
behind  one." 

"I  could  fetch  another  glass,  but  you  may  trust  my 
word,  aunt.  This  point  behind  is  very  becoming,  it 
gives  distinction  to  the  waist." 

' '  Yes.  Baldwin  cuts  these  bodies  better  than  Olivier, 
but  the  worst  of  her  is,  when  it  comes  to  the  trimming 


10  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

you  have  to  think  for  yourself;  the  woman  has  no  mind: 
she  is  a  pair  of  hands,  and  there  is  an  end  of  her." 

''I  must  confess  it  is  a  httle  plain,  for  one  thing," 
said  Lucy. 

"Why,  you  little  goose,  you  don't  think  I  am  going 
to  wear  it  like  this.  No,  I  thought  of  having  down  a 
wreath  and  bouquet  from  Foster's  of  violets  and  heart's- 
ease — ^the  bosom  and  sleeves  covered  with  blonde,  you 
know,  and  caught  up  here  and  there  with  a  small  bunch 
of  the  flowers.  Then,  in  the  centre  heart's-ease  of 
the  bosom,  I  meant  to  have  had  two  of  my  largest 
diamonds  set — hush!" 

The  door  handle  worked  viciously,  then  came  rap! 
rap!  rap!  rap! 

*'Tic — tic — tic — this  is  always  the  way.  Who  is 
there.?  go  away — ^you  can't  come  here." 

**But  I  want  to  speak  to  you;  what  the  deuce  are  you 
doing.?"  said  through  the  keyhole  the  wretch  that 
owned  the  room  in  a  mere  legal  sense. 

"We  are  trying  a  dress.     Come  again  in  an  hour." 

"  Confound  your  dresses !     Who  is  we  ?  " 

"Lucy  has  got  a  new  dress." 

"Aunt!"  whispered  Lucy,  in  a  tone  of  piteous 
expostulation. 

"Oh,  if  it  is  Lucy.  Well,  good-bye,  ladies.  I  am 
obliged  to  go  to  London  at  a  moment's  notice,  for  a 
couple  of  days.  You  will  have  done  by  when  I  come 
back,  perhaps;"  and  off  went  Bazalgette  whistling, 
but  not  best  pleased.  He  had  told  his  wife  more  than 
once  that  the  drawing-rooms  and  dining-rooms  of  a 
house  are  the  public  rooms,  and  the  bedrooms  the 
private    ones. 

Lucy  coloured  with  mortification;  it  was  death  to 


LOVE  ME  LONG  11 

her  to  annoy  any  one,  so  her  aunt  had  thrust  her  into  a 
cruel  position. 

"Poor  Mr.  Bazalgette!"  sighed  she. 

"Fiddle-de-dee!  Let  him  go,  and  come  back  in  a 
better  temper.  Set  transparent;  so  then,  backed  by 
the  violet,  you  know,  they  will  imitate  dewdrops  to  the 
life." 

"Charming!  Why  not  let  Olivier  do  it  for  you,  as 
poor  Baldwin  cannot.?" 

"Because  Olivier  works  for  the  Claytons,  and  we 
should  have  that  Emily  Clayton  coming  out  as  my 
double,  and  as  we  visit  the  same  houses " 

"And  as  she  is  extremely  pretty — aunt,  what  a  gen- 
eralissima  you  are!" 

"Pretty!  Snub-nosed  little  toad.  No;  she  is  not 
pretty.  But  she  is  eighteen,  so  I  can't  afford  to  dress 
her.  No.  I  see  I  shall  have  to  moderate  my  views  for 
this  gown,  and  buy  another  dress  for  the  flowers  and 
diamonds.  There,  take  it  off  and  let  us  think  it  calmly 
over.  I  never  act  in  a  hurry,  but  I  am  sorry  for  it  after- 
wards— I  mean  in  things  of  real  importance."  The 
gown  was  taken  off  in  silence,  broken  only  by  occasional 
sighs  from  the  sufferer,  in  whose  heart  a  dozen  projects 
battled  fiercely  for  the  mastery,  and  worried  and  sore 
perplexed  her,  and  rent  her  inmost  soul  fiercely  divers 
ways. 

"Black  lace,  dear,"  suggested  Lucy  soothingly. 

Mrs.  B.  curled  her  arm  lovingly  round  Lucy's  waist. 
"Just  what  I  was  beginning  to  think,"  said  she  warmly. 
"And  we  can't  both  be  mistaken,  can  we  ?  But  where 
can  I  get  enough.?"  and  her  countenance,  that  the 
cheering  coincidence  had  rendered  seraphic,  was  once 
more  clouded  with  doubt. 


12  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

' '  Why,  you  have  yards  of  it  ?  " 

"Yes ;  but  mine  is  all  made  up  in  some  form  or  other, 
and  it  messes  one's  things  so  to  pick  them  to  pieces." 

'*So  it  does,  dear,"  replied  Lucy,  with  gentle  but 
genuine  feeling. 

**It  would  only  be  for  one  night,  Lucy — I  should  not 
hurt  it,  love.  You  would  not  like  to  fetch  down  your 
Brussels  point-scarf,  and  see  how  it  would  look,  would 
you?  We  need  not  cut  the  lace,  dear;  we  could  tack 
it  on  again  the  next  morning.  You  are  not  so  particular 
as  I  am — you  look  well  in  anything." 

Lucy  was  soon  seated  denuding  herself  and  embellish- 
ing her  aunt.  The  latter  reclined  with  grace,  and 
furthered  the  work  by  smile  and  gesture. 

"You  don't  ask  me  about  the  skirmish  in  the 
nursery.?" 

"Their  squabbles  bore  me,  dear;  but  you  can  tell 
me  who  was  the  most  in  fault,  if  you  think  it  worth 
while." 

"Reginald,  then,  I  am  afraid;  but  it  is  not  the  poor 
boy:  it  is  the  influence  of  the  stable-yard;  and  I  do 
advise  and  entreat  you  to  keep  him  out  of  it." 

"Impossible,  my  dear;  you  don't  know  boys.  The 
stable  is  their  paradise.  When  he  grows  older  his 
father  must  interfere;  meantime  let  us  talk  of  some- 
thing more  agreeable." 

"Yes;  you  shall  go  on  with  your  story.  You  had 
got  to  his  look  of  despair  when  your  papa  came  in  that 
morning." 

"Oh!  I  have  no  time  for  anybody's  despair  just 
now — I  can  think  of  nothing  but  this  detestable  gown. 
Lucy,  I  suspect  I  almost  wish  I  had  made  them  put 
another  breadth  into  the  skirt." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  13 

"Luncheon,  ma'am." 

Lucy  begged  her  aunt  to  go  down  alone,  she  would 
stay  and  work. 

"No,  you  must  come  to  luncheon;  there  is  a  dish 
on  purpose  for  you  —  stewed  eels." 

"Eels;  why,  I  abhor  them;  I  think  they  are  water- 
serpents." 

"  Who  is  it  that  is  so  fond  of  them,  then .?" 

"It  is  you,  aunt." 

"So  it  is.  I  thought  it  had  been  you.  Come,  you 
must  come  down  whether  you  eat  anything  or  not.  I 
like  somebody  to  talk  to  me  while  I  am  eating,  and  I 
had  an  idea  just  now  —  it  is  gone — but  perhaps  it  will 
come  back  to  me;  it  was  about  this  abominable  gown. 
Oh!  how  I  wish  there  was  not  such  a  thing  as  dress  in 
the  world!!!" 

While  Mrs,  Bazalgette  was  munching  water-snakes 
with  delicate  zeal,  and  Lucy  nibbling  cake,  came  a 
letter.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  read  it  with  heightening  colour, 
laid  it  down,  cast  a  pitying  glance  on  Lucy,  and  said 
with  a  sigh,  "Poor  girl." 

Lucy  turned  a  little  pale.  "Has  anything  hap- 
pened.?" she  faltered. 

"Something  is  going  to  happen:  you  are  to  be  torn 
away  from  here,  where  you  are  so  happy,  where  we  all 
love  you,  dear;  it  is  from  that  selfish  old  bachelor. 
Listen:  —  'Dear  Madam,  my  niece,  Lucy,  has  now  been 
due  here  three  days.  I  have  waited  to  see  whether  you 
would  part  with  her  without  being  dunned.  My 
curiosity  on  that  point  is  satisfied,  and  I  have  now  only 
my  affection  to  consult,  which  I  do  by  requesting  you 
to  put  her  and  her  maid  into  a  carriage,  that  will  be 
waiting  for  her  at  your  door  twenty-four  hours  after 


14  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

you  receive  this  note.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  madam,' 
—  and  old  brute!  !" 

*' And  you  can  smile;  but  that  is  you  all  over  —  you 
don't  care  a  straw  whether  you  are  happy  or  miserable." 

"Don't  I. P" 

**Not  you;  you  will  leave  this,  where  you  are  a 
little  queen,  and  go  and  bury  yourself  three  months 
with  that  old  bachelor,  and  nobody  will  ever  gather 
from  your  face  that  you  are  bored  to  death;  and  here 
we  are  asked  to  the  Cavendish's  next  Wednesday,  and 
the  Hunt's  ball  on  Friday  —  you  are  such  a  lucky  girl  — 
our  best  invitations  always  drop  in  while  you  are  with 
us — we  go  out  three  times  as  often  during  your  months 
as  at  other  times ;  it  is  your  good  fortune,  or  the  weather, 
or  something." 

"Dear  aunt,  this  was  your  own  arrangement  with 
Uncle  Fountain.  I  used  to  be  six  months  with  each  in 
turn  till  you  insisted  on  its  being  three;  you  make  me 
almost  laugh,  both  you  and  Uncle  Fountain.  What 
do  you  see  in  me  worth  quarrelling  for  ?" 

"I  will  tell  you  what  he  sees,  a  good  little  spiritless 
thing " 

"I  am  larger  than  you,  dear." 

"Yes,  in  body  —  that  he  can  make  a  slave  of  — 
always  ready  to  nurse  him  and  his  toe,  or  to  put  down 
your  work  and  to  take  up  his:  to  play  at  his  vile 
back-gammon." 

"Piquet,  please." 

"Where  is  the  difference.?  to  share  his  desolation, 
and  take  half  his  blue  devils  on  your  own  shoulders; 
till  he  will  hyp  you  so  that  to  get  away  you  will  consent 
to  marry  into  his  set,  the  county  set,  some  beggarly  old 
family  that  came  down  from  the  Conquest,  and  has  been 


LOVE  ME  LONG  15 

going  down  ever  since.  So  then  he  will,  let  you  fly  — 
with  a  string  —  you  must  vegetate  two  miles  from  him; 
so  then  he  can  have  you  in  to  Backquette  and  write  his 
letters  —  he  will  settle  four  hundred  a  year  on  you,  and 
you  will  be  miserable  for  life." 

"Poor  Uncle  Fountain,  what  a  schemer  he  turns  out." 

"Men  all  turn  out  schemers  when  you  know  them. 
Miss  Impertinence.  Well,  dear,  I  have  no  selfish  views 
for  you.  I  love  my  few  friends  too  single-heartedly  for 
that;  but  I  am  sad  when  I  see  you  leaving  us  to  go 
where  you  are  not  prized." 

"Indeed,  aunt,  I  am  prized  at  Font  Abbey.  I  am 
overrated  there  as  I  am  here.  They  all  receive  me  with 
open  arms." 

"So  is  a  hare  when  it  comes  into  a  trap,"  said  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  sharply,  drawing  upon  a  limited  knowledge 
of  grammar  and  field  sports. 

"No;  Uncle  Fountain  really  loves  me." 

"As  much  as  I  do  .^"  asked  the  lady  with  a  treacher- 
ous smile. 

"Very  nearly,"  was  the  young  courtier's  reply.  She 
went  on  to  console  her  aunt's  unselfish  solicitude,  by 
assuring  her  that  Font  Abbey  was  not  a  solitude;  that 
dinners  and  balls  abounded,  and  her  uncle  was  invited 
to  them  all. 

"You  little  goose,  don't  you  see  ?  all  those  invitations 
are  for  your  sake,  not  his;  if  we  could  look  in  on  him 
now,  we  should  find  him  literally  in  single  cursedness. 
Those  county  folks  are  not  without  cunning.  They 
say,  beauty  has  come  to  stay  with  the  beast,  we  must 
ask  the  beast  to  dinner,  so  then  beauty  will  come  along 
with  him. 

"What  other  pleasure  awaits  you  at  Font  Abbey .^" 


16  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

**The  pleasure  of  giving  pleasure,"  replied  Lucy 
apologetically. 

"Ah!  that  is  your  weakness,  Lucy.  It  is  all  very 
well  with  those  who  won't  take  advantage,  but  it  is  the 
wrong  game  to  play  with  all  the  world;  you  will  be 
made  a  tool  of,  and  a  slave  of,  and  use  of.  I  speak  from 
experience;  you  know  how  I  sacrifice  myself  to  those  I 
love  —  luckily  they  are  not  many." 

"Not  so  many  as  love  you,  dear." 

"Heaven  forbid!  but  you  are  at  the  head  of  them  all, 
and  I  am  going  to  prove  it  —  by  deeds,  not  words." 

Lucy  looked  up  at  this  additional  feature  in  her 
aunt's  affection. 

"You  must  go  to  the  great  bear's  den  for  three 
months,  but  it  shall  be  the  last  time!"  Lucy  said 
nothing. 

"You  will  return  never  to  quit  us,  or  at  all  events, 
not  the  neighbourhood." 

"That — would  be — nice,"  said  the  courtier  warmly, 
but  hesitatingly;  "but  how  will  you  gain  uncle's  con- 
sent.?" 

"By  dispensing  with  it." 

"Yes;  but  the  means,  aunt?" 

"A  husband!" 

Lucy  started,  and  coloured  all  over,  and  looked  askant 
at  her  aunt  with  opening  eyes  like  a  thoroughbred  filly 
just  going  to  start  all  across  the  road.  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
laid  a  loving  hand  on  her  shoulder,  and  whispered 
knowingly  in  her  ear.  "Trust  to  me,  I'll  have  one 
ready  for  you  against  you  come  back  this  time." 

"No;  please  don't  !  pray  don't!"  cried  Lucy,  clasp- 
ing her  hands  in  feeble-minded  distress. 

"In  this  neighbourhood  —  one  of  the  right  sort." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  17 

"I  am  so  happy  as  I  am." 

"You  will  be  happier  when  you  are  quite  a  slave; 
and  so  I  shall  save  you  from  being  snapped  up  by  some 
country  wiseacre,  and  marry  you  into  our  own  set." 

'*  Merchant  princes,"  suggested  Lucy  demurely,  hav- 
ing just  recovered  her  breath,  and  what  little  sauce 
there  was  in  her. 

"Yes,  merchant  princes;  the  men  of  the  age,  the  men 
who  could  buy  all  the  acres  in  the  country  without 
feeling  it ;  the  men  who  make  this  little  island  great,  and 
a  woman  happy,  by  letting  her  have  everything  her 
heart  can  desire." 

"You  mean  everything  that  money  can  buy.^" 

"Of  course.     I  said  so,  didn't  I.?" 

"So  then,  you  are  tired  of  me  in  the  house,"  remon- 
strated Lucy  sadly. 

"No,  ingrate;  but  you  will  be  sure  to  marry  soon  or 
late." 

"No,  I  will  not — if  I  can  possibly  help  it." 

"But  you  can't  help  it:  you  are  not  the  character  to 
help  it.  The  first  man  that  comes  to  you  and  says  *I 
know  you  rather  dislike  me' — (you  could  not  hate  any- 
body, Lucy),  'but  if  you  don't  take  me  I  shall  die  of  a 
broken  fiddlestick,'  you  will  whine  out,  *Oh  dear — 
shall  you.?  well  then — sooner  than  disoblige — here — 
take  me!'  " 

"Am  I  so  weak  as  this.?"  asked  Lucy,  colouring, 
and  the  water  coming  into  her  eyes. 

"Don't  be  offended,"  said  the  other  coolly,  "we 
w^on't  call  it  weakness,  but  excess  of  complaisance; 
you  can't  say  no  to  anybody." 

"Yet  I  have  said  it,"  replied  Lucy  thoughtfully. 

"Have    you.?  when.?     Oh,  to  me.     Yes — where  I 


18  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

am  concerned,  you  have  sometimes  a  will  of  your  own, 
and  a  pretty  stout  one — but  never  with  anybody  else." 

The  aunt  then  inquired  of  the  niece,  "Frankly  now, 
between  ourselves,"  whether  she  had  no  wish  to  be 
married.  The  niece  informed  her  in  confidence  that 
she  had  not,  and  was  puzzled  to  conceive  how  the  bare 
idea  of  marriage  came  to  be  so  tempting  to  her  sex. 
Of  course  she  could  understand  a  lady  wishing  to  marry, 
if  she  loved  a  gentleman  who  was  determined  to  be 
unhappy  without  her;  but  that  women  should  look 
about  for  some  hunter  to  catch  instead  of  waiting 
quietly  till  the  hunter  caught  them,  this  puzzled  her, 
and  as  for  the  superstitious  love  of  females  for  the 
marriage  rite  in  cases  when  it  took  away  their  liberty 
and  gave  them  nothing  amiable  in  return,  it  amazed 
her.  "So,  aunt,"  she  concluded,  "if  you  really  love 
me,  driving  me  to  the  altar  will  be  an  unfortunate  way 
of  showing  it." 

While  listening  to  this  tirade,  which  the  young  lady 
delivered  with  great  serenity,  and  concluded  with  a 
little  yawn,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  had  two  thoughts — the 
first  was,  "This  girl  is  not  flesh  and  blood;  she  is  made 
of  curds  and  whey,  or  something;"  the  second  was, 
"No,  she  is  a  shade  hypocriticaller  than  other  girls — 
before  they  are  married,  that  is  all."  And,  acting  on 
this  latter  conviction,  she  smiled  a  lofty  incredulity,  and 
fell  to  counting  on  her  fingers  all  the  monied  bachelors 
for  miles. 

At  this  Lucy  winced  with  sensitive  modesty,  and  for 
once  a  shade  of  vexation  showed  itself  on  her  lovely 
features;  the  quick-sighted,  keen-witted  matron  caught 
it,  and  instantly  made  a  masterly  move  of  feigned  retreat. 
"No,"  cried  she,  "I  will  not  tease  you  any  more,  love. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  19 

Just  promise  me  not  to  receive  any  gentleman's  ad- 
dresses at  Font  Abbey,  and  I  will  never  drive  you  from 
my  arms  to  the  altar." 

*'I  promise  that,"  cried  Lucy  eagerly. 

"Upon  your  honour?" 

*'Upon  my  honour." 

**Kiss  me,  dear,  I  know  you  won't  deceive  me, 
now  you  have  pledged  your  honour.  This  solemn 
promise  consoles  me  more  than  you  can  conceive." 

"I  am  so  glad;  but  if  you  knew  how  little  it  costs  me." 

*' All  the  better;  you  will  be  more  likely  to  keep  it," 
was  the  dry  reply. 

The  conversation  then  took  a  more  tender  turn. 
"And  so  to-morrow  you  go.  How  dull  the  house  will 
be  without  you ;  and  who  is  to  keep  my  brats  in  order 
now  I  have  no  idea.  Well,  there  is  nothing  but 
meeting  and  parting  in  this  world;  it  does  not  do  to 
love  people,  does  it  ?  (ah !)  Don't  cry,  love,  or  I  shall 
give  way;  my  desolate  heart  already  brims  over — no — 
now  don't  cry;"  (a  little  sharply)  "the  servants  will  be 
coming  in  to  take  away  the  things." 

"Will  you  c — c — come  and  h — help  me  pack,  dear  ?" 

"Me,  love.^  oh  no.  I  could  not  bear  the  sight  of 
your  things  put  out  to  go  away.  I  promised  to  call  on 
Mrs.  Hunt  this  afternoon;  and  you  must  not  stop  in  all 
day  yourself — I  cannot  let  your  health  be  sacrificed. 
You  had  better  take  a  brisk  walk,  and  pack  afterward." 

"  Thank  you,  aunt.  I  will  go  and  finish  my  drawing 
of  Harrowden  Church,  to  take  with  me." 

"No,  don't  go  there ;  the  meadows  are  wet — walk 
upon  the  Hatton  road;  it  is  all  gravel." 

"Yes;  only  it  is  so  ugly,  and  I  have  nothing  to  do 
that  way." 


20  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"But  I'll  give  you  something  to  do,"  said  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  obligingly.  "You  know  where  old  Sarah 
and  her  daughter  live — the  last  cottages  on  that  road. 
I  don't  like  the  shape  of  the  last  two  collars  they  made 
me;  you  can  take  them  back  if  you  like,  and  lend  them 
that  one  of  yours  I  admire  so,  for  a  pattern." 

"That  I  will,  with  pleasure." 

"Shall  you  come  back  through  the  garden.?  if  you 
don't,  never  mind,  but,  if  you  do,  you  may  choose  me 
a  bouquet.     The  servants  are  incapable  of  a  bouquet." 

"I  will,  thank  you,  dear;  how  kind  and  thoughtful 
of  you  to  give  me  something  to  occupy  me  now  that  I 
am  a  little  sad." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  accepted  this  tribute  with  a  benig- 
nant smile,  and  the  ladies  parted. 

The  next  morning  a  travelling-carriage  with  four 
smoking  post-horses  came  wheeling  round  the  gravel 
to  the  front  door.  Uncle  Fountain's  factotum  got 
down  from  the  dickey,  packed  Lucy's  imperial  on  the 
/  roof,  and  slung  a  box  below  the  dickey;  stowed  her 
maid  away  aft,  arranged  the  foot-cushion  and  a  shawl 
or  two  inside,  and,  half  obsequiously,  half  bumptiously, 
awaited  the  descent  of  his  fair  charge. 

Then,  upstairs,  came  a  sudden  simultaneous  attack 
of  ardent  lips,  and  a  long  clinging  embrace,  that  would 
have  graced  the  most  glorious,  passionate,  antique  love. 
Sculpture  outdone,  the  young  lady  went  down  and  was 
handed  into  the  carriage.  Her  ardent  aunt  followed 
presently  and  fired  many  glowing  phrases  in  at  the  win- 
dow; and,  just  as  the  carriage  moved,  she  uttered  a 
single  word  quite  quietly,  as  much  as  to  say,  now  this 
I  mean.     This  genuine  word,  the  last  Aunt  Bazalgette 


LO\^  ME  LONG  21 

spoke,  had  been,  two  hundred  years  before,  the  last 
word  of  Charles  the  First.  Note  the  coincidences  of 
history. 

The  two  post-boys  lifted  their  whips  level  to  their  eyes 
by  one  i^stinct,  the  horses  tightened  the  traces,  the 
wheels  ground  the  gravel,  and  Lucy  was  whirled  away 
with  that  quiet  emphatic  "post  diet  ringing  in  her  ears — 

Remember ! 

Font  Hill  was  sixty  miles  off:  they  reached  it  in  less 
than  six  hours;  there  was  Uncle  Fountain  on  the  hall 
steps  to  receive  her,  and  the  comely  housekeeper,  Mrs. 
Brown,  ducking  and  smiling  in  the  background.  While 
the  servants  were  unpacking  the  carriage,  Mr.  Foun- 
tain took  Lucy  to  her  bedroom.  Mrs.  Brown  had  gone 
on  before  to  see,  for  the  third  time,  whether  all  was  com- 
fortable. There  was  a  huge  fire,  all  red;  and  on  the 
table  a  gigantic  nosegay  of  spring  flowers  with  smell 
to  them  all. 

**Oh,  how  nice  after  a  journey,"  said  Lucy,  mowing 
down  Uncle  Fountain  and  Mrs.  Brown  with  one  com- 
prehensive smile. 

Mrs.  Brown  flamed  with  complacency. 

"What,"  cried  her  uncle,  "I  suppose  you  expected 
a  black  fire  and  impertinent  apologies,  by  way  of  sub- 
stitute for  warmth;  a  stuffy  room,  and  damp  sheets, 
roasted,     like     a    woodcock,    twenty    minutes    before 


use." 


"No,  uncle  dear,  I  expected  every  comfort  at  Font 
Abbey."     Brown  retired  with  a  curtsey. 

"Aha,  what,  you  have  found  out  that  it  is  all  hum- 
bug about  old  bachelors  not  knowing  comfort.^  Do 
bachelors  ever  put  their  friends  into  damp  sheets  ?     No; 


22  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

that  is  the  women's  trick  with  their  household  science. 
Your  sex  have  killed  more  men  with  damp  sheets  than 
ever  fell  by  the  sword." 

'*Yet  nobody  erects  monuments  to  us,"  put  in  Lucy 
slily. 

She  missed  fire.  Uncle  Fountain,  like  most  English- 
men, could  take  in  a  pun  by  the  ear,  but  wit  only  by 
the  eye.  *'Do  you  remember  when  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
put  you  into  the  linen  sponge,  and  killed  you .?" 

''Killed  me.?" 

''Certainly,  as  far  as  in  her  lay.  We  can  but  do  our 
best — ^well,  she  did  hers,  and  went  the  right  way  to 
work." 

"You  see  I  survive." 

"By  a  miracle.     Dinner  is  at  six." 

"Very  well,  dear." 

"Yes;  but  six  in  this  house  means  sixty  minutes 
after  five,  and  sixty  minutes  before  seven.  I  mention 
this  the  first  day  because  you  are  just  come  from  a 
place  where  it  means  twenty  minutes  to  seven;  also 
let  me  observe  that  I  think  I  have  noticed  soup  and 
potatoes  eat  better  hot  than  cold,  and  meat  tastes  nicer 
done  to  a  turn  than " 

"To  a  cinder.?" 

**Ha — ^ha — and  come  with  an  appetite,  please!" 

"  Uncle,  no  tyranny,  I  beg." 

"Tyranny.?  you  know  this  is  Liberty  Hall;  only 
when  I  eat,  I  expect  my  companion  to  eat  too;  besides 
there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  humbug  to-day.  There 
will  be  only  us  two  at  dinner,  and  when  I  see  young 
ladies  fiddling  with  an  asparagus  head,  instead  of  eating 
their  dinner,  I  don't  fall  into  the  greenhorn's  notion  — 
exquisite  creature!  all  soul!  no  stomach!  feeds  on  air. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  23 

ideas,  and  quadrille  music;  no;  what  do  you  think, 
I  say?" 

'*  Something  flattering,  I  feel  sure." 

"On  the  contrary,  something  true.  I  say,  hypocrite! 
Been  grubbing  like  a  pig  all  day,  so  can't  eat  like  a 
Christian  at  meal-time;  you  can't  humbug  me." 

"Alas!  so  I  see.  That  decides  me  to  be  candid — 
and   hungry." 

"  Well,  I  am  off:  I  don't  stick  to  my  friends  and  bore 
them  with  my  affairs,  like  that  egotistical  hussy,  Jane 
Bazalgette.  I  amuse  myself,  and  leave  them  to  amuse 
themselves;  that  is  my  notion  of  politeness.  I  am 
going  to  see  my  pigs  fed;  then  into  the  village.  I  am 
building  a  new  blacksmith's  shop  there  (you  must  come 
and  look  at  it  the  first  thing  to-morrow),  and  at  six  if 
you  want  to  find  me " 

"I  shall  peep  behind  the  soup  tureen." 

"And  there  I  shall  be  if  I  am  alive." 

At  dinner  the  old  boy  threw  himself  into  the  work 
with  such  zeal,  that,  soon  after  the  cloth  was  removed, 
from  fatigue  and  repletion  he  dropped  asleep  with  his 
shoulder  toward  Lucy,  but  his  face  instinctively  turned 
toward  the  fire.  Lucy  crept  away  on  tiptoe  not  to 
disturb  him. 

In  about  an  hour  he  bustled  into  the  drawing- 
room,  ordered  tea,  blew  up  the  footman  because  the 
cook  had  not  water  boiling  that  moment;  drank 
three  cups;  then  brightened  up,  rubbed  his  hands, 
and  with  a  cheerful  benevolent  manner,  "Now,  Lucy," 
cried  he,  "come  and  help  me  puzzle  out  this  tiresome 
genealogy." 

A  smile  of  warm  assent  from  Lucy,  and  the  old  bache- 
lor and  the  blooming  Hebe  were  soon  seated  with  a 


24  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

mountain  of  parchments  by  their  side,  and  a  tree  spread- 
ing before  them. 

It  was  not  a  finite  tree  like  an  elm  or  an  oak.  No ; 
it  was  a  banyan-tree;  covered  an  acre,  and  from  its 
boughs  little  suckers  dropped  to  earth,  and  turned  to 
little  trees,  and  had  suckers  in  their  turn,  and  "con- 
founded the  confusion." 

Uncle  Fountain's  happiness  depended,  pro  tern,,  on 
proving  that  he  was  a  sucker  from  the  great  bough  of 
the  Fontaines  of  Melton;  and  why?  Because,  this 
effected,  he  had  only  to  go  along  that  bough  by  an 
established  pedigree  to  the  great  trunk  of  the  Funteynes 
of  Salle;  and  the  first  Funteyne  of  Salle  was  said  to  be 
(and  this  he  hoped  to  prove  true)  great  grandson  of 
Robert  de  Fontibus,  son  of  John  de  Fonte. 

Now  Uncle  Fountain  could  prove  himself  the  shoot 
of  George  his  father  (a  step  at  which  so  many  great 
pedigrees  halt),  who  was  the  shoot  of  William,  who  was 
the  shoot  of  Richard;  but  here  came  a  gap  of  eighty 
years  between  him  and  that  Fountain,  younger  son  of 
Melton,  to  whom  he  wanted .  to  hook  on.  Now  the 
logic  of  women,  children,  and  criticasters  is  a  thing  of 
gaps  —  they  reason  as  marches  a  kangaroo;  but,  to 
mathematicians,  logicians,  and  genealogists  a  link  want- 
ing is  a  chain  broken.  This  blank  then  made  Uncle 
Fountain  miserable,  and  he  cried  out  for  help.  Lucy 
came  with  her  young  eyes,  her  woman's  patience,  and 
her  native  complaisance.  A  great  ditch  yawned  be- 
tween a  crocheteer  and  a  rotten  branch  he  coveted. 
Our  Quinta  Curtia  flung  herself,  her  eyesight,  and  her 
time  into  that  ditch. 

Twelve  o'clock  came  and  found  them  still  wallowing 
in  modern  antiquity. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  25 

"  Bless  me,"  cried  Mr.  Fountain,  when  John  brought 
in  the  bed-candles,  "how  time  flies  when  one  is  really 
employed." 

'*Yes,  indeed,  uncle;"  and  by  a  gymnastic  of 
courtesy  she  first  crushed,  and  then  so  moulded  a  yawn, 
that  it  glided  into  society  a  smile. 

"We  have  spent  a  delightful  evening,  Lucy.?" 

"Thanks  to  you,  uncle." 

"I  hope  you  will  sleep  well,  child." 

"I  am  sure  I  shall,  dear,"  said  she  sweetly  and  inad- 
vertently. 


CHAPTER  II 

A  LARGE  aspiration  is  a  rarity,  but  who  has  not  some 
small  ambition,  none  the  less  keen  for  being  narrow  — 
keener  perhaps  ?  Mrs.  Bazalgette  burned  to  be  great 
by  dress;  Mr.  Fountain,  member  of  a  sex  with  higher 
aims,  aspired  to  be  great  in  the  county. 

Unluckily  his  main  property  was  in  the  funds;  he 

had  acres  in shire,  but  so  few,  that  some  years  ago 

its  lord-lieutenant  declined  to  make  him  an  injustice 
of  the  peace.  That  functionary  died,  and  on  his 
death  the  mortified  aspirant  bought  a  coppice,  christened 
it  Springwood,  and  under  cover  of  this  fringe  to  his 
three  meadows  applied  to  the  new  lord-lieutenant  as 
Macduff  approached  Macbeth.  The  new  man  made 
him  a  magistrate;  so  now  he  aspired  to  be  a  deputy- 
lieutenant,  and  attended  all  the  boards  of  magistrates, 
and  turnpike  trusts,  &c.,  and  brought  up  votes  and 
beer  barrels  at  each  election,  and,  in  short,  played  all 
the  cards  in  his  pack,  Lucy  included,  to  earn  that 
distinction. 

We  may  as  well  confess  that  there  lurked  in  him  a 
half  unconscious  hope  that  some  day  or  other,  in  some 
strange  collision  or  combination  of  parties,  a  man  pro- 
found in  county  business,  zealous  in  county  interests, 
personally  obnoxious  to  nobody,  might  drop  into  the 
seat  of  county  member;  and  if  this  should  be,  would 
not  he  have  the  sense  to  hold  his  tongue  upon  the  noisy 
questions  that  waste  Parliament's  time,  and  the  nation's. 
But,  on  the  first  of  those  periodical  attacks  to  which 

26 


LOVE  ME  LONG 


27 


the  wretched  landowner  is  subject,  would  n't  he  speak 
and  show  the  difference  between  a  mere  member  of 
the  Commons  and  a  member  for  the  county. 

If  any  one  had  asked  this  man  plump  which  is  the 

.most  important,  England  or ^shire,  he  would  have 

certainly  told  you  England;  but  our  opinions  are  not 
the  notions  we  repeat,  and  can  defend  by  reasons  or 
even  by  facts  —  our  opinions  are  the  notions  we  feel 
and  act  on.  Could  you  have  looked  inside  Mr.  Foun- 
tain's head  you  would  have  seen  ideas  corresponding 
to   the  following   diagrams: 


Mr.  Fountain  courted  the  stomach  of  the  county. 

Without  this,  he  knew,  an  angel  could  not  reach  its 
heart;  and  here  one  of  his  eccentricities  broke  out. 
He  drew  a  line  in  his  dictatorial  way  between  dinner- 
and  feeding-parties.  "A  dinner-party  is  two  rubbers. 
Four  gentlemen  and  four  ladies  sit  round  a  circular 
table;  so  then  each  can  hear  what  any  one  says,  and 


28  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

need  not  twist  the  neck  at  every  word.  Foraging- 
parties  are  from  fourteen  to  thirty,  set  up  and  down 
a  plank,  each  separated  from  those  he  could  talk  to,  as 
effectually  as  if  the  ocean  rolled  betwixt,  and  bawling 
into  one  person's  ear  amidst  the  din  of  knives,  forks, 
and  multitude.  I  go  to  those  long  strings  of  noisy 
duets,  because  I  must;  but  I  give  society  at  home." 

The  county  people  had  just  strength  of  mind  to  like 
the  old  boy's  sociable  dinners,  though  not  to  imitate 
them;  and  an  invitation  from  him  was  very  rarely 
declined  when  Lucy  was  with  him. 

And  she  was  in  her  glory.  She  could  carry  com- 
plaisance such  a  long  way  at  Font  Abbey — she  was 
mistress  of  the  house. 

She  listened  with  a  wonderful  appearance  of  interest 
to  county  matters,  i.  e.,  to  minute  scandal  and  in- 
finitesimal politics;  to  the  county  cricket  match  and 
archery  meeting;  to  the  past  ball,  and  the  ball  to  come. 
In  the  drawing-room,  when  a  cold  fit  fell  on  the  coterie, 
she  would  glide  to  one  egotist  after  another,  find  out 
the  mono  tope,  and  set  the  critter  off  on  it.  Then 
might  you  see  beings  of  straw  kindle  and  emit  sparks 
of  small  talk  as  this  torch  went  round  and  touched 
them. 

One  day  old  Fountain  said  to  his  niece  with  a  good- 
humoured  sneer,  "I  have  found  out  why  you  are  such 
a  favourite,  Lucy;  you  have  not  got  a  wish  or  an  opinion 
of  your  own  upon  any  earthly  thing.  You  are  a  mirror 
—  a  regular  looking-glass  in  a  handsome  frame,  upon 
"ny  honour,  haw!  haw!  haw!  But  never  mind;  a 
mirror  is  more  attractive  than  a  magnet.  See  how 
they  all  sidle  up  to  mine;  and  so  they  do  to  you,  and 
always  will,  wherever  you  go." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  29 

Lucy  smiled,  but  a  red  flush  flitted  across  her  brow 
— she  bowed  over  her  work,  and  made  no  reply. 

Uncle  Fountain  chuckled.  He  prided  himself  on 
his  perfect  insight  into  people's  characters.  He  was 
one  of  those  who  can  tell  the  exact  depth  of  the  Atlantic 
with  a  ten-fathom  line. 

Lucy  was  finishing  her  answer  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette's 
letter,  that  lay  on  the  table;  that  lady's  postscript  ran 
thus:  *'Any  wooer  yet?  upon  your  honour!" 

She  had  hardly  time  to  fold  her  letter,  before  her 
uncle  wanted  her  to  write  five  invitations  to  dinner. 
She  was  immediately  at  his  service,  and  out  of  the 
business  arose  the  following  dialogue 

'*And  who  is  to  be  the  eighth.?" 

"Oh,Talboys." 

**No,  uncle,  not  Mr.  Talboys." 

**Not  Mr.  Talboys!  why,  what  earthly  objection  can 
you  have  to  him  ?"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  almost  roughly. 

**I.?  none  whatever;  only  you  never  invite  the  same 
person  twice  running,  and  Mr.  Talboys  dined  here  last 
time  —  at  least  I  think  so;  let  me  examine  my  book  — 
yes  —  why  he  dined  here  not  only  last  time  but  the  time 
before.  Whom  shall  we  substitute.?  three  times  run- 
ning is  too  great  a  distinction  for  any  mere  mortal." 

**Mr.  Talboys,"  replied  the  other  gravely,  '*is  one 
of  those  who  confer  distinction  on  his  entertainer;  he 
can  hardly  receive  it." 

Lucy  opened  her  eyes,  "Why,  what  has  he  done?" 

"He  is  the  oldest  family  in  the  county,  that  is  all," 
replied  Fountain  with  tremendous  irony. 

*^ Older   than   yours.?  —  than   ours?" 

"Older  than  ours,"  said  her  uncle  firmly  and 
solemnly.     "The  Talboys  came  in  with  the  Conqueror 


30  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

—  Robert  de  Fonte  lived  in  Henry  the  Third's  reign 
only." 

*' Apropos,  where  has  Mr.  Talboys  been  all  this 
time  that  I  never  met  him  here  before  this  visit  ?" 

"He  was  doing  what  his  ancestors  have  done  for 
three  hundred  years  past.  On  attaining  his  majority, 
he  made  a  three  years'  tour  of  Europe  to  rub  off  his 
English  prejudices;  he  has  returned  the  accomplished 
gentleman  you  see  him." 

"Mr.  Talboys  dresses  in  good  taste  and  carries  him- 
self very  tolerably,"  said  Lucy,  whose  cue  it  now  was 
to  see  the  gentleman's  good  qualities;  "still  three  times 
running:  consider  the  many  competitors  for  a  seat  at 
your  board." 

"My  table,  please,  the  only  one  in  the  county  that 
is  not  a  board.  Never  mind,  Lucy,  so  long  as  Talboys 
does  us  the  honour  to  come,  we  will  make  him  welcome; 
and,  by  the  way,  I  want  you  to  pay  him  a  little  more 
attention." 

"Dear  uncle,  have  I  been  so  thoughtless  as  to  neglect 
any  guest  of  yours .?" 

"No,  my  dear,  you  are  the  pink  of  courtesy;  but 
Talboys  is  a  little  reserved,  a  man  of  singular  delicacy  — 
he  wants  drawing  out;  but  he  has  been  in  all  the  courts 
of  Europe,  and  there  are  treasures  of  good  sense  and 
knowledge  in  him,  if  you  will  but  dig  for  them;  ay,  and 
of  feeling  too." 

"Of  feeling.?  are  you  sure,  uncle?" 

"Positive;  he  has  the  highest  opinion  of  you." 

"Indeed!  he  never  gave  me  any  reason  to  think  so." 

"He  has  me,  though;  which  is  more  to  the  point." 

"Is  it.?" 

"And,   by-the-by,"  said   the   old  boy  slily,    "that 


LOVE  ME  LONG  31 

reminds  me  I  have  a  note  from  him  in  my  pocket,  in 
which  you  are  concerned  —  there  it  is.  Talking  of 
notes  I  had  better  ring  and  send  your  letter  down, 
or  it  will  be  too  late  for  the  post.  Well,  what  is 
the  matter.^  you  are  as  red  as  fire  —  ha!  ha!" 

"Oh,  uncle!  now  how  kind  of  Mr.  Talboys — how 
very  kind." 

"  'Your  niece  mentioned  the  other  evening  that 
she  was  fond  of  riding,  but  that  your  hunters  are  too 
hot  for  a  lady  to  manage.  There  is  an  animal  here 
that  perhaps  may  suit  her;  a  quiet  galloway' — oh, 
uncle!  —  'with  tolerable  paces.  I  send  him  over  to  you 
with  his  side  saddle' — oh,  uncle!  —  'and  shall  feel 
flattered  if  Miss  Fountain  will  do  him  the  honour  to 
ride  him  faute  de  mieux.^  Is  not  that  kind  of  Mr. 
Talboys.?  so  considerate  too.  How  one  may  be 
mistaken!" 

"In  what .?"  cried  Fountain,  with  eager  expectation. 

"I   took  him  for  a  well-bred  nullity." 

"  Well,  now  you  see  he  is  nothing  of  the  kind." 

"Oh,  no;  a  quiet  galloway!  I  will  make  up  for  my 
injustice  when  he  dines  here.  I  was  to  invite  Mr.  Tal- 
boys, was  I  not.'^" 

"Of  course." 

Lucy  drew  the  notepaper  to  her,  and  while  she  was 
writing  Mr.  Talboys  in  the  usual  form,  but  with  a 
grateful  smile  dimpling  her  glowing  cheek,  John  an- 
swered the  bell  and  Mr.  Fountain  sent  off  her  letter  to 
Mrs.  Bazalgette. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  got  the  letter  in  due  course,  pounced 
like  an  eagle  on  the  postscript  first.  It  ran  thus;  "No 
wooer,  upon  my  honour." 

Her  eye  twinkled  with  exultation  and  small  treachery. 


S2  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

That  very  afternoon,  for  the  second  time  this  month, 
she  despatched  a  perfumed  note  to  Mr.  Hardie. 

Mr.  Hardie  was  only  son  of  the  greatest  banker  in 
the  great  commercial  city,  near  which  the  Bazalgettes 
lived.  The  lady's  reasons  for  courting  him  so,  ran 
thus  on  the  ascending  scale:  he  is  thirty;  he  is  a  bache- 
lor; his  father  is  just  dead. 


CHAPTER  Til 

Lucy  received  Mr.  Talboys  graciously;  but  reserved  the 
pony  for  the  drawing-room.  There  she  thanked  him 
with  a  world  of  grace;  and,  indeed,  the  nag  and  his 
paces  were  a  fruitful  theme  to  which  she  returned  by 
skilful  detours,  when  all  else  flagged.  Next,  in  com- 
pliance with  her  uncle's  request,  she  dug  for  this  gentle- 
man's treasures.  Hitherto  he  had  not  appeared  to  her 
what  my  Lord  Bacon  calls  "a  full  man;"  for  which 
she  blamed  herself.  '*I  have  not  given  him  a  fair 
chance.  He  is  a  great  traveller;  I  ought  to  have 
showed  more  curiosity  about  the  countries  he  has 
visited,  the  customs,  the  buildings,  the  works  of  art,  the 
costumes,  the  —  oh,  how  I  should  love  to  travel!" 

So  now  she  did  question  him  with  a  warm  and  cour- 
teous curiosity;  and  so  plied  him  that  the  other  ladies 
by  degrees  came  gliding  up  one  by  one,  serpent-like, 
with  genuine  curiosity  and  most  seeming  nonchalance, 
and  Mr. 'Talboys  was  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  bright 
eyes.  Miss  Fountain  still  plied  him,  and  the  others 
listened  to  him  with  undisguised  deference,  and  a 
marked  prejudice  in  favour  of  every  word  he  could 
utter. 

The  gentleman  saw  this,  and,  instead  of  warming 
at  his  hearers,  and  fighting  hard  against  his  natural 
coldness  of  temperament  and  faintness  of  perception, 
he  fell  into  the  quaint  error  of  icing  his  milk  and  water. 
Most  superfluous  congelation!  Talboys  had  really 
sauntered  Europe  round  with  a  mind  cased  in  non- 
33 


34  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

conductors.  To  him  nothing  in  all  the  countries  he 
visited  had  seemed  very  beautiful,  or  very  curious ;  and 
why  ?  to  admire,  a  man  must  appreciate,  and  the  power 
of  appreciating  on  a  large  scale  is  too  much  akin  to 
genius  to  be  common.  Glowing  descriptions  from 
such  a  quarter  as  this  were  out  of  the  question;  to 
describe  loftily  you  must  have  admired  humbly. 

The  quiet  and  well-bred,  but  genuine  enthusiasm 
with  which  Lucy  addressed  the  great  traveller,  extracted 
cold  monosyllables — little  clots  of  indifference.  She 
felt  like  chipping  an  iceberg;  still  she  persisted,  and 
vanity  fired  the  little  heart,  that  the  Alps  from  the  Jurat, 
the  lake  of  Thun,  the  bay  of  Naples,  the  Jungfrau, 
the  wreck  of  the  Parthenon,  St.  Peter's,  the  Place  de 
la  Concorde,  the  square  of  St.  Mark's,  Versailles,  the  Al- 
hambra,  the  Apollo  Belvedere,  the  Madonna  of  the  chair, 
and  all  the  glories  of  nature  and  the  feats  of  art  could 
not  warm.  So  then,  the  fine  gentleman  began  to  act, 
to  walk  himself  out  as  a  person  who  had  seen  and  could 
give  details  about  anything,  but  was  exalted  far  above 
admiring  anything.  (Quel  grand  homme!  rien  ne  peut 
lui  plairel)  and  on  this,  while  the  women  were  gazing 
sweetly  on  him,  and  revering  his  superiority  to  all  great 
impressions,  and  the  men  envying,  rather  hating,  but 
secretly  admiring  him  too,  she,  who  had  launched  him, 
bent  on  him  a  look  of  soft  pity,  and  abandoned  him  to 
admiration. 

*'Poor  Mr.  Talboys,"  thought  she,  "I  fear  I  have 
done  him  an  ill  turn  by  drawing  him  out,"  and  she 
glided  to  her  uncle,  who  was  sitting  apart  and  nobody 
talking  to  him. 

Mr.  Talboys,  started  by  Lucy,  ambled  out  his  high- 
pacing  nil  admirantem  character,  and  derived  a  little 


LOVE  ME  LONG  35 

quiet  self-satisfaction.  This  was  the  highest  happiness 
he  was  capable  of,  so  he  was  not  ungrateful  to  Miss 
Fountain,  who  had  procured  it  him ;  and  partly  for  this, 
partly  because  he  had  been  kind  to  her  and  lent  her  a 
pony,  he  shook  hands  with  her  somewhat  cordially  at 
parting.     As  it  happened  he  was  the  last  guest. 

'*  You  have  won  that  man's  heart,  Lucy,"  cried  Mr. 
Fountain,  with  a  mixture  of  surprise  and  pride. 

Lucy  made  no  reply.  She  looked  quickly  into  his 
face  to  see  if  he  was  jesting. 

'*  Writing,  Lucy.^  so  late." 

*'Only  a  few  lines,  uncle.  You  shall  see  them:  I 
note  the  more  remarkable  phenomena  of  society.  I 
am  recalling  a  conversation  between  three  of  our  guests 
this  evening,  and  shall  be  grateful  for  your  opinion  on 
it.     There.     Read  it  out,  please." 

''Mrs.  LuttrelL  *We  missed  you  at  the  archery 
meeting — ha!  ha!  ha!' 

''Mrs,  Willis,  'Mr.  Willis  would  not  let  me  go — 
he!  he!  he!' 

"Mrs,  James.  *Well,  at  all  events — he!  he!— you 
will  come  to  the  flower-show.' 

"Mrs.  Willis.  *Oh— yes! — he!  he!  I  am  so  jond  of 
flowers — ha!  ha!' 

"Mrs.  LuttrelL    *So  am  I.     I  adore  them— he!    he!' 

"Mrs,  Willis,  *How  sweetly  Miss  Malcolm  sings — 
he!  he!' 

"Mrs,  LuttrelL  *Yes,  she  shakes  like  a  bird  — 
ha!  ha!' 

"Mrs,   James.     'A  little  Scotch   accent,  though  — 

he!  he!' 


36  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

''Mrs,  LuttrelL  'She  is  Scotch— he!  he!'  (To  John 
offering  her  tea)  'No  more,  thank  you  —  he !   he !' 

''Mrs.  James.  'Shall  you  go  to  the  assize  sermon? 
—ha!  ha!' 

"Mrs.  Willis.  'Oh,  yes!  —  he!  he!: — the  last  was 
very  dry  —  he!  he!     Who  preaches  it  this  term?  —  he!' 

"Mrs.  James.     'The  Bishop  —  he!  he!' 

"Mrs.  Willis.  'Then  I  shall  certainly  go;  he  is  such 
a  dear  preacher  —  he!  he!'  " 

"Just  tell  me  what  is  the  precise  meaning  of  'ha! 
ha!'  and  what  of  'he!  he!'  " 

"  The  precise  meaning  ?  there  you  puzzle  me,  uncle." 

"I  mean,  what  do  you  mean  by  them  ?" 

"Oh,  I  put  'ha!  ha!'  when  they  giggled,  and  'he! 
he!'  when  they  only  chuckled." 

"Then  this  is  a  caricature,  my  lady." 

"No,  dear;  you  know  I  have  no  satire  in  me;  it  is 
taken  down  to  the  letter,  and  I  fear  I  must  trouble  you 
for  the  solution." 

"Well,  the  solution  is,  they  are  three  fools." 

"No,  uncle,  begging  your  pardon,  they  are  not," 
replied  Lucy  politely  but  firmly. 

"Well,  then,  three  d d  fools." 

Lucy  winced  at  the  participle,  but  was  too  polite  to 
lecture  her  elder.  "They  have  not  that  excuse,"  said 
she;  "they  are  all  sensible  women,  who  discharge  all 
the  duties  of  life  with  discretion,  except  society;  and 
they  can  discriminate  between  grave  and  gay  whenever 
they  are  not  at  a  party.  And  as  for  Mrs.  Luttrell,  when 
she  is  alone  with  me,  she  is  a  sweet,  natural  love." 

"They  cackled  —  at  every  word  —  like  that  —  the 
whole  evening  !  !  ?  ?" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  37 

"Except  when  you  told  that  funny  story  about  the 
Irish  corporal  who  was  attacked  by  a  mastiff,  and 
killed  him  with  his  halbert;  and  when  he  was  re- 
proached by  his  captain  for  not  being  content  to  repel 
so  valuable  an  animal  with  the  butt-end  of  his  lance, 
answered,  'ha!  ha!'" 

"So  then  he  answered,  'haw!  haw!'  did  he?" 

"Now,  uncle!  No,  he  answered,  'So  I  would,  your 
Arnr,  if  he  had  run  at  me  with  his  tail!'  Now  that 
was  genuine  wit,  mixed  with  quite  enough  fun  to  make 
an  intelligent  person  laugh,  and  then  you  told  it  so 
drolly,  ha!  ha!" 

" They  did  not  laugh  at  that?'' 

"Sat  as  grave  as  judges." 

"And  you  tell  me  they  are  not  fools." 

"I  must  repeat  they  have  not  that  excuse;  perhaps 
their  risibility  had  been  exhausted — after  laughing  three 
hours  a  propos  de  rien  it  is  time  to  be  serious  out  of 
place*.  I  will  tell  you  what  they  did  laugh  at,  though. 
Miss  Malcolm  sang  a  song  with  a  title  I  dare  not  at- 
tempt. There  were  two  lines  in  it  which  I  am  going 
to  mispronounce,  but  you  are  not  Scotch,  so  I  don't 
care  for  you^  uncle,  darling. 

"  *He  had  but  a  saxpence;  he  brake  it  in  twa, 
And  he  gave  me  the  half  o't  when  he  gaed  awa.' 

They  laughed  at  that — a  general  giggle  went  round." 

"Well,  I  must  confess,  I  do  n't  see  much  to  laugh  at 
in  that,   Lucy." 

"It  would  be  odd  if  you  did,  uncle,  dear;  why,  it 
is  pathetic." 

"Pathetic!  Oh,  is  it.?" 

"You  naughty,  cunning  uncle,  you  know  it  is — it  is 


38  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

pathetic,  and  almost  heroic.  Consider,  dear,  in  a 
world  where  the  very  newspapers  show  how  mercenary 
we  all  are,  a  poor  young  man  is  parted  from  his  love; 
he  has  but  one  coin  to  go  through  the  world  with,  and 
what  does  he  do  with  it  ?  scheme  to  make  the  sixpence 
a  crown,  and  to  make  the  crown  a  pound  ?  no ;  he 
breaks  this  one  treasure  in  two,  that  both  the  poor 
things  may  have  a  silver  token  of  love  and  a  pledge  of 
his  return.  I  am  sure  if  the  poet  had  been  here,  he 
would  have  been  quite  angry  with  us  for  laughing  at 
that  line." 

*'Keep  your  temper!  why,  this  is  new  from  you, 
Lucy;  but  you  women  of  sugar  can  all  cauterise  your 
own  sex — the  theme  inspires  you." 

"Uncle!  how  dare  you!  are  you  not  afraid  I  shall  be 
angry  one  of  these  days,  dear!!  ?  The  gentlemen  were 
equally  concerned  in  this  last  enormity.  Poor  Jemmy, 
or  Jammy,  with  his  devotion  and  tenderness  that 
soothed,  and  his  high  spirit  that  supported  the  weaker 
vessel,  were  as  funny  to  our  male  as  to  our  female  guests 
— so  there.  I  saw  but  one  that  understood  him,  and 
did  not  laugh  at  him." 

*'Talboys,  for  a  pound." 

"Mr.  Talboys.?  no!  you,  dear  uncle,  you  did  not 
laugh,  I  noticed  it  with  all  a  niece's  pride." 

*'  Of  course  I  did  n't.  Can  I  hear  a  word  these  ladies 
mew  ?  can  I  tell  in  what  language  even  they  are  whining 
and  miauling.?  I  have  given  up  trying  this  twenty 
years  and  more." 

"I  return  to  my  question,"  said  Lucy  hastily. 

"And  I  to  my  solution;  your  three  graces  are  three 
deed  fools.  If  you  can  account  for  it  any  other  way, 
do," 


LOVE  ME  LONG  39 

"No,  uncle  dear;  if  you  had  happened  to  agree  with 
me  beforehand,  I  would ;  but,  as  you  do  not,  I  beg  to  be 
excused.  But  keep  the  paper,  and  the  next  time  listen 
to  the  talk  and  the  unmeaning  laughter — you  will  find 
I  have  not  exaggerated;  and  some  day,  dear,  I  will  tell 
you  how  my  mamma  used  to  account  for  similar  mon- 
strocities  in  society." 

"Here  is  a  mysterious  little  toad.  Well,  Lucy,  for 
all  this  you  enjoyed  yourself.  I  never  saw  you  in  better 
spirits." 

"I  am  glad  you  saw  that,"  said  Lucy,  with  a  languid 
smile. 

"And  how  Talboys  came  out." 

"He  did,"  sighed  Lucy. 

Here  the  young  lady  lighted  softly  on  an  ottoman  and 
sank  gracefully  back  with  a  weary-o'-the-world  air ;  and 
when  she  had  settled  down  like  so  much  floss  silk,  fixing 
her  eyes  on  the  ceiling,  and  doling  her  words  out  lan- 
guidly yet  thoughtfully — just  above  a  whisper,  "Uncle, 
darling,"  inquired  she,  "where  are  the  men  we  have  all 
heard  of?" 

"How  should  I  know.^     What  men.?" 

"Where  are  the  men  of  sentiment  that  can  under- 
stand a  woman,  and  win  her  to  reveal  her  real  heart, 
the  best  treasure  she  has,  uncle,  dear?"  She  paused 
for  a  reply;  none  coming,  she  continued,  with  decreas- 
ing energy — 

"Where  are  the  men  of  spirit  ?  the  men  of  action  ? 
the  upright,  downright  men,  that  heaven  sends  to  cure 
us  of  our  disingenuousness  ?  Where  are  the  heroes 
and  the  wits?"  (an  infinitesimal  yawn),  "where  are 
the  real  men?  And  where  are  the  women  to  whom 
such  men  can  do  homage  without  degrading  themselves  ? 


40  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

where  are  the  men  who  elevate  a  woman  without  mak- 
ing her  masculine,  and  the  women  who  can  brighten 
and  polish,  and  yet  not  soften  the  steel  of  manhood — 
tell  me,  tell  me  instantly,"  said  she,  with  still  great 
languor  and  want  of  earnestness,  and  her  eyes  remained 
fixed  on  the  ceiling  in  deep  abstraction. 

"They  are  all  in  this  house  at  this  moment/'said  Mr. 
Fountain  coolly. 

*'Who,  dear.?  I  fear  I  was  not  attending  to  you. 
How  rude!!" 

"Horrid.  I  say  the  men  and  women  you  inquire 
for  are  all  in  this  house  of  mine;"  and  the  old  gentle- 
man's eyes  twinkled. 

"Uncle!     Heaven  forgive  you,   and — oh,   fie!" 

"They  are,  upon  my  soul." 

"Then  they  must  be  in  some  part  of  it  I  have  not 
visited — are  they  in  the  kitchen.?"  (with  a  little  saucy 
sneer).  < 

"No,  they  are  in  the  library."  / 

"In  the  lib ,  ah,  le  malinr' 

"They  were  never  seen  in  a  drawing-room^,  and 
never  will."  ■H^K 

"Yet  surely  they  must  have  lived  in  nature  Before 
they  were  embalmed  in  print,"  said  Lucy,  interrogating 
the  ceiling  again. 

"The  nearest  approach  you  will  meet  to  these  para- 
gons is  Reginald  Talboys,"  said  Fountain  stoutly .Mif 

"Uncle,  I  do  love  you;"  and  Lucy  rose  with  Juno- 
like slowness  and  dignity,  and  leaning  over  the  old  boy, 
kissed  him  with  sudden  small  fury. 

"Why.? "asked  he  eagerly,  connecting  this  majestic 
squirt  of  affection  with  his  last  speech. 

"Because  you  are  such  a  nice,  dear,  sarcastic  thing. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  41 

Let  us  drink  tea  in  the  library  to-morrow;  then  that 

will  be  an  approach  to " 

With  this  illegitimate  full-stop  the  conversation  ended, 
and  Miss  Fountain  took  a  candle  and  sauntered  to  bed. 

In  church  next  Sunday,  Lucy  observed  a  young  lady 
with  a  beaming  face,  who  eyed  her  by  stealth  in  all  the 
interstices  of  devotion.  She  asked  her  uncle  who  was 
that  pretty  girl  with  a  nez  retrousse. 

*'A  cocked  nose?  it  must  be  my  little  friend  Eve     | 
Dodd.     I  did  n't  know  she  was  come  back." 

**  What  a  pretty  face  to  be  in  such — such  a — such  an 
impossible  bonnet.  It  has  come  down  from  another 
epoch."  This  not  maliciously,  but  with  a  sort  of  tender 
womanly  concern  for  beauty  set  off  to  the  most  dis- 
advantage. 

**Oh,  hang  her  bonnet!  she  is  full  of  fun;  she  shall 
drink  tea  with  us — she  is  a  great  favourite  of 
mine." 

They  quickened  their  pace  and  caught  Eve  Dodd 
just  as  she  took  a  flying  leap  over  some  water  that  lay 
in  her  path,  and  showed  a  charming  ankle;  in  those 
days  female  dress  committed  two  errors  that  are  dis-  j 
appearing:  it  revealed  the  whole  foot  by  day,  and  hid  a 
section  of  the  bosom  at  night. 

After  the  usual  greetings  Mr.  Fountain  asked  Eve 
if  she  would  come  over  and  drink  tea  with  him  and  his 
niece. 

Miss  Dodd  coloured,  and  cast  a  glance  of  undisguised 
admiration  at  Miss  Fountain,  but  she  said,  ''Thank 
you,  sir,  I  am  much  obliged,  but  I  am  afraid  I  can't      \ 
come — my  brother  would  miss  me." 

''What!  the  sailor.?  is  he  at  home?" 


42  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

**Yes,  sir,  came  home  last  night,"  and  she  clapped 
her  hands  by  way  of  comment.  *'  He  has  been  with  my 
mother  all  church  time;  so  now  it  is  my  turn,  and  I 
don't  know  how  to  let  him  out  of  my  sight  yet  awhile." 
And  she  gave  a  glance  at  Miss  Fountain,  as  much  as  to 
say,  "You  understand." 

**Well,  Eve,"  said  Mr.  Fountain  good-humouredly, 
"we  must  not  separate  brother  and  sister,"  and  he 
was  turning  to  go. 

"Perhaps,  uncle,"  said  Lucy,  looking  not  at  Mr. 
Fountain  but  at  Eve,  "Mr.— Mr. " 

"David  Dodd  is  my  brother's  name,"  said  Eve 
quickly. 

"  Mr.  David  Dodd  might  be  persuaded  to  give  us  the 
pleasure  of  his  company  too." 

"Oh,  yes,  if  I  may  bring  dear  David  with  me,"  burst 
out  the  child  of  nature,  colouring  again  with  pleasure. 

"It  will  add  to  the  obligation,"  said  Lucy,  finishing 
the  sentence  in  character. 

"So  that  is  settled,"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  somewhat 
drily. 

As  they  were  walking  home  together  the  courtier 
asked  her  uncle  rather  coldly,  "Who  are  these  we  have 
invited,  dear.?" 

"Who  are  they.?  A  pretty  girl  and  a  man  she 
would  n't  come  without." 

"And  who  is  the  gentleman.?  what  is  he.?" 

"A  marine  animal;  first  mate  of  a  ship." 

"First  mate.?  mate.?  is  that  what  in  the  novels  is 
called  boatswain's  mate.?" 

"Haw!  haw!  haw!  I  say,  Lucy,  ask  him  when  he 
comes  if  he  is  the  bosen's  mate.?  how  little  Eve  will 
blaze!" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  43 

"Then  I  shall  ask  him  nothing  of  the  kind;  do  tell 
me! — ^I  know  admirals — they  swear — and  captains,  and, 
I  think,  heutenants,  and,  above  all,  those  little  loves  of 
midshipmen,  strutting  with  their  dirks  and  cocked  hats 
like  warlike  bantams;  but  I  never  met 'mates.'  Mates?" 

"That  is  because  you  have  only  been  introduced  to 
the  Royal  Navy;  but  there  is  another  navy  not  so 
ornamental,  but  quite  as  useful,  called  the  East  India 
Company's." 

"I  am  ashamed  to  say  I  never  heard  of  it." 

"I  dare  say  not.  Well,  in  this  navy  there  are  only 
two  kinds  of  superior  officers — the  mates  and  the  cap- 
tain. There  are  five  or  six  mates.  Young  Dodd  has 
been  first  mate  some  time,  so  I  suppose  he  will  soon  be 
a  captain." 

"Uncle!" 

"Well?" 

"  Will  this— mate— swear  ?  " 

"Clearly." 

"There,  now.  I  do  not  like  swearing  on  a  Sunday. 
That  wicked  old  admiral  used  to  make  me  shudder." 

"Oh,"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  playing  upon  innocence, 
**he  swore  by  the  Supreme  Being,  I  bet  sixpence." 

"Yes,"  said  Lucy,  in  a  low  soft  voice  of  angelic 
regret. 

"Ah,  he  was  in  the  Royal  Navy.  But  this  is  a  mer- 
chantman; you  don't  think  he  will  presume  to  break 
into  the  monopoly  of  the  superior  branch.  He  will 
only  swear  by  the  wind  and  the  weather.  Thunder 
and  squalls!  Donner  and  blitzen!  Handspikes  and 
halyards!  these  are  the  innocent  execrations  of  the 
merchant  service — ^he!  he!  ho!" 

"Uncle,  can  you  be  serious?"  asked  Lucy,  some- 


44  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

what  coldly;  "if  so,  be  so  good  as  to  tell  me  is  this 
gentleman — a — ^gentleman  ?" 

"Well,"  replied  the  other  coolly,  "he  is  what  I  call  a 
nondescript — like  an  attorney,  or  a  surgeon,  or  a  civil- 
engineer,  or  a  banker,  or  a  stockbroker,  and  all  that  sort 
of  people.  He  can  be  a  gentleman  if  he  is  thoroughly 
bent  on  it;  you  would  in  his  place,  and  so  should  I; 
but  these  skippers  don't  turn  their  mind  that  way. 
Old  families  don't  go  into  the  merchant-service.  In- 
deed it  would  not  answer.  There  they  rise  by — ^by — 
mere  maritime  considerations." 

"Then,  uncle,"  began  Lucy  with  dignified  severity, 
"permit  me  to  say  that  in  inviting  a  nondescript — ^you 
showed  —  less  consideration  for  me  than  —  you  —  are  in 
the  habit — of  doing,  dearest." 

"Well,  have  a  headache  and  can't  come  down." 

"So  I  certainly  should;  but  most  unfortunately  I 
have  an  objection  to  tell  fibs  on  a  Sunday." 

"You  are  quite  right;  we  should  rest  from  our  usual 
employments  one  day,  ha!  ha!  and  so  go  at  it  fresher 
to-morrow,  haw!  ho!  Come,  Lucy,  don't  you  be  so 
exclusive.  Eve  Dodd  is  a  merry  girl;  she  comes  and 
amuses  me  when  you  are  not  here,  and  David  by  all 
accounts  is  a  fine  young  fellow,  and  as  modest  as  a  girl 
of  fifteen.  They  will  make  me  laugh,  especially  Eve, 
and  it  would  be  hard  at  my  age,  I  think,  if  I  might  not 
ask  who  I  like — to  tea." 

"So  it  would,"  put  in  Lucy  hastily;  she  added  coax- 
ing, "  it  shall  have  its  own  way,  it  shall  have  what  makes 
it  laugh." 

Long  before  eight  o'clock  the  Fountains  had  forgotten 
that  they  had  invited  the  Dodds. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  45 

Not  so  Eve.  She  was  all  in  a  flutter,  and  hesitated 
between  two  dresses,  and  by  some  blessed  inspiration 
decided  for  the  plainest;  but  her  principal  anxiety  was 
not  about  herself,  but  about  David's  deportment  before 
the  Queen  of  Fashion,  for  such  report  proclaimed  Miss 
Fountain.  "And  those  fine  ladies  are  so  satirical," 
said  Eve  to  herself;  "but  I  will  lecture  him  going 
along." 

Dinner-time,  and  by  consequence  tea-time,  came 
earlier  in  those  days.  So  about  eight  o'clock  a  tall 
square-shouldered  young  fellow  was  walking  in  the 
moonlight  toward  Font  Abbey;  Eve  holding  his  hand 
and  tripping  by  his  side,  and  lecturing  him  on  deport- 
ment, very  gravely,  while  dancing  round  him  and  pulling 
him  all  manner  of  ways,  like  your  solid  tune  with  your 
gambolling  accompaniment  —  a  combination  now  in 
vogue.  All  of  a  sudden,  without  your  leave  or  by  your 
leave,  the  said  David  caught  this  light  fantastic  object 
up  in  his  arms  and  carried  it  on  one  shoulder. 

On  this  she  gave  one  little  squeak,  then,  without  a 
moment's  interval,  continued  her  lecture  as  if  nothing 
had  happened.  She  looked  down  from  her  perch,  like 
a  hen  from  a  ladder,  and  laid  down  the  law  to  David 
with  seriousness  and  asperity. 

"And  just  please  to  remember  that  they  are  people  a 
long  way  above  us,  at  least  above  what  we  are  now 
since  father  fell  into  trouble,  so  don't  you  make  too 
free;  and  Miss  Fountain  is  the  finest  of  all  the  fine  ladies 
in  the  county." 

"Then  I  am  sorry  we  are  going." 

"No  you  are  not;  she  is  a  beautiful  girl." 

"That  alters  the  case." 

"No,     it     does    not:     don't    chatter     so,    David, 


46  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

interrupting  for  ever,  but  listen,  and  mind  what  I  say, 
or  I'll  never  take  you  anywhere  again." 

''Are  you  sure  you  are  taking  me  now?"  asked 
David  drily. 

"Why  not,  Mr.  David .^"  retorted  Eve  from  his 
shoulder.  "Didn't  I  hear  you  tell  how  you  took  the 
Comhermere  out  of  harbour,  and  how  you  brought  her 
into  port :  she  didn't  take  you  out  and  bring  you  home, 
eh.?" 

"Had  me  there,  though." 

"Yes,  and  what  is  more,  you  are  not  skipper  of  the 
Comhermere  yet,  and  never  will  be;  but  I  am  skipper 
of  you." 

"Ashore;  not  a  doubt  of  it,"  said  David,  with  cool 
indifference.  He  despised  terrestrial  distinction,  court- 
ing only  such  as  was  marine. 

"  Then  I  command  you  to  let  me  down  this  instant  — 
do  you  hear,  crew!  .?" 

"No,"  objected  David,  "I  if  put  you  overboard  you 
can't  command  the  vessel,  and  ten  to  one  if  the  craft 
does  not  founder  for  want  of  seawomanship  on  the 
quarter-deck.  However,"  added  he  in  a  relenting  tone, 
"wait  till  we  get  to  that  puddle  shining  on  ahead,  and 
there  I'll  disembark  you." 

"No,  David,  do  let  me  down,  that  is  a  good  soul  — 
I  am  tired,"  added  she  peevishly. 

"Tired!  of  what.?" 

"Of  doing  nothing,  stupid;  there  let  me  down,  dear, 
won't  you,  darling.?  then  take  that,  love,"  (a  box  of 
the  ear). 

"Well,  I've  got  it,"  said  David  drily. 

"  Keep  it  then,  till  the  next:  no,  he  won't  let  me  down 
—  now  he  has  got  both  my  hands  in  one  of  his  paws,  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  47 

he  will  carry  me  every  foot  of  the  way  now,  I  know  the 
obstinate  pig." 

*'We  all  have  our  little  characters,  Eve.  Well,  I 
have  got  your  wrists,  but  you  have  got  your  tongue,  and 
that  is  the  stronger  weapon  of  the  two,  you  know;  and 
you  are  on  the  poop,  so  give  your  orders,  and  the  ship 
shall  be  worked  accordingly.  Likewise  I  will  enter  all 
your  remarks  on  good  breeding  into  my  log." 

Here  unluckily  David  tapped  his  forehead  to  signify 
that  the  log  in  question  was  a  metaphorical  one,  the 
log  of  memory.  Eve  had  him  again  directly.  She 
freed  a  claw.  **So  this  is  your  log,  is  it.?"  cried  she, 
tapping  it  as  hard  as  she  could,  **well  it  does  sound 
like  wood  of  some  sort.  Well,  then,  David  dear,  you 
wretch,  I  mean,  promise  me  not  to  laugh  loud." 

*' Well,  I  will  not;  it  is  odds  if  I  laugh  at  all.  I  wish 
we  were  to  moor  alongside  mother  instead  of  running 
into  this  strange  port." 

*' Stuff!  think  of  Miss  Fountain's  figurehead  —  nor 
tell  too  many  stories  —  and  above  all,  for  Heaven's  sake, 
do  keep  the  poor  dear  old  sea  out  of  sight  for  once." 

"Ay,  ay,  that  stands  to  reason." 

By  this  time  they  were  at  Font  Abbey,  and  David 
deposited  his  fair  burden  gently  on  the  stone  steps  of 
the  door:  she  opened  it  without  ceremony  and  bustled 
into  the  dining-room  crying,  *'I  have  brought  David, 
sir,  and  here  he  is,"  and  she  accompanied  David's  bow 
with  a  corresponding  movement  of  her  hand,  the 
knuckles  downward. 

The  old  gentleman  awoke  with  a  start,  rubbed  his 
eyes,  shook  hands  with  the  pair,  and  proposed  to  go 
up  to  Lucy  in  the  drawUig-room. 

Now  it  happened  unluckily,   that  Miss  Fountain 


48  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

had  been  to  the  Hbrary,  and  taken  down  one  or  two 
of  those  men  and  women  who,  according  to  her  uncle, 
exist  only  on  paper;  and  certain  it  is  she  was  in  charm- 
ing company,  when  she  heard  her  visitors'  steps  and 
voices  coming  up  the  stairs.  Had  those  visitors  seen 
the  vexed  expression  of  her  face  as  she  laid  down  the 
book,  they  would  have  instantly  'bout  ship  and  home 
again;  but  that  sour  look  dissolved  away  as  they  came 
through  the  open  door. 

On  coming  in  they  saw  a  young  lady  seated  on  a 
sofa. 

Apparently  she  did  not  see  them  enter  —  her  face 
happened  to  be  averted;  but  ere  they  had  taken  three 
steps  she  turned  her  face,  saw  them,  rose  and  took  two 
steps  to  meet  them,  all  beaming  with  courtesy,  kindness, 
and  quiet  satisfaction  at  their  arrival. 

She  gave  her  hand  to  Eve. 

"This  is  my  brother.  Miss  Fountain." 

Miss  Fountain  instantly  swept  David  a  courtesy  with 
such  a  grace  and  flow,  coupled  with  an  engaging  smile, 
that  the  sailor  was  fascinated,  and  gazed  instead  of 
bowing. 

Eve  had  her  fiinger  ready  to  poke  him,  when  he 
recovered   himself   and   bowed   low. 

Eve  played  the  accompaniment  with  her  hand, 
knuckles  down. 

They  sat  down;  cups  of  tea,  &c.,  were  brought 
round  to  each  by  John.  It  was  bad  tea,  made  out  of 
the  room:  catch  a  human  being  making  good  tea  in 
which  it  is  not  to  share. 

Mr.  Fountain  was  only  half  awake. 

Eve  was  more  or  less  awed  by  Lucy.  £)avid  tutored 
by  Eve  held  his  tongue  altogether,  or  gave  short  answers. 


\ 


LOVE  ME  LONG  49 

"This  must  be  what  the  novels  call  a  sea-cub!" 
thought  Miss  Fountain. 

The  fiends,  Propriety  and  Restraint,  presided 
over  the  innocent  banquet,  and  a  dismal  evening 
set  in. 

The  first  infraction  of  this  polite  tranquillity  came, 
I  blush  to  say,  fom  the  descendant  of  John  de  Fonte. 
He  exploded  in  a  yawn  of  magnitude;  to  cover  this  the 
young  lady  began  hastily  to  play  her  old  game  of  setting 
people  astride  their  topic,  and  she  selected  David  Dodd 
for  the  experiment.  She  put  on  a  warm  curiosity  about 
the  sea,  and  ships,  and  the  countries  men  visit  in  them. 
Then  occurred  a  droll  phenomenon:  David  flashed 
with  animation,  and  began  full  and  intelligent  answers; 
then  catching  his  sister's  eye  came  to  unnatural  full 
stops;  and  so  warmly  and  skilfully  was  he  pressed  that 
it  cost  him  a  gigantic  effort  to  avoid  giving  much  amuse- 
ment and  instruction.  The  courtier  saw  this  hesitation, 
and  the  vivid  flashes  of  intelligence,  and  would  not  lose 
her  prey.  She  drew  him  with  all  a  woman's  tact  and 
with  a  warmth  so  well  feigned  that  it  set  him  on  real 
fire.  His  instinct  of  politeness  would  not  let  him  go  on 
all  night  giving  short  answers  to  inquiring  beauty.  He 
turned  his  eye,  which  glowed  now  like  a  live  coal,  towards 
that  enticing  voice,  and  presently,  like  a  ship  that  has 
been  hanging  over  the  water  ever  so  long  on  the  last 
rollers,  with  one  gallant  glide  he  took  the  sea,  and  towed 
them  all  like  little  cockleboats  in  his  wake.  From  sea 
to  sea,  from  port  to  port,  from  tribe  to  tribe,  from  peril 
to  peril,  from  feat  to  feat,  David  whirled  his  wonder- 
struck  hearers;  and  held  them  panting  by  the  quad- 
ruple magic  of  a  tuneful  voice,  a  changing  eye,  an  ardent 
soul,  and  truth  at  first-hand. 


50  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

They  sat  thrilled  and  surprised,  most  of  all  Miss 
Fountain;  to  her  things  great  and  real  had  up  to  that 
moment  been  mere  vague  outlines  seen  through  a  mist. 
Moreover,  her  habitual  courtesy  had  hitherto  drawn 
out  pumps;  but  now,  when  least  expected,  all  in  a 
moment,  as  a  spark  fires  powder,  it  let  off  a  man. 

A  sailor  is  a  live  book  of  travels.  Check  your  own 
vanity  (if  you  possibly  can)  and  set  him  talking,  you 
shall  find  him  full  of  curious  and  profitable  matter. 

The  Fountains  did  not  know  this,  and,  even  if  they 
had,  Dodd  would  have  taken  them  by  surprise;  for 
besides  being  a  sailor  and  a  sea-enthusiast,  he  was  a 
fellow  of  great  capacity  and  mental  vigour. 

He  had  not  skimmed  so  many  books  as  we  have,  but 
I  fear  he  had  sucked  more.  However,  his  main  strength 
did  not  lie  there;  he  was  not  a  paper  man,  and  this — 
oh,  men  of  paper,  and  oh,  C.  R.  in  particular — gave 
him  a  tremendous  advantage  over  you  that  Sunday 
evening. 

The  man  whose  knowledge  all  comes  from  reading, 
accumulates  a  great  number  of  what  ?  facts  ?  no,  of  the 
shadows  of  facts;  shadows,  often  so  thin,  indistinct, 
and  featureless,  that  when  one  of  the  facts  themselves 
runs  against  him  in  real  life,  he  does  not  know  his  old 
friend,  round  about  which  he  has  written  a  smart  leader 
in  a  journal,  and  a  ponderous  trifle  in  the  Polysyllabic 
Review. 

But  this  sailor  had  stowed  into  his  mental  hold  not 
fact-shadows,  but  the  glowing  facts  all  alive,  oh.  For 
thirteen  years,  man  and  boy,  he  had  beat  about  the  globe, 
with  real  eyes,  real  ears,  and  real  brains  ever  at  work. 
He  had  drunk  living  knowledge  like  a  fish,  and  at 
fountain  heads. 


LO\^  ME  LONG  51 

Yet  to  utter  intellectual  wealth  nobly,  two  things 
more  are  indispensable — the  gift  of  language  and  a 
tuneable  voice,  which  last  does  not  always  come  by 
talking  with  tempests. 

Well,  David  Dodd  had  sucked  in  a  good  deal  of 
language  from  books  and  tongues;  not,  indeed,  the 
Norman-French  and  demi-Latin,  and  jargon  of  the 
schools,  printed  for  English  in  impotent  old  trimestrials 
for  the  further  fogification  of  cliques;  but  he  had  laid 
by  a  fair  store  of  the  best,  of  the  monosyllables,  the 
Saxon,  the  soul  and  vestal  fire  of  the  great  English 
tongue. 

So  he  was  never  at  a  loss  for  words,  simple,  clear, 
strong,  like  blasts  of  a  horn. 

His  voice  at  this  period  was  mellow  and  flexible.  He 
was  a  mimic  too;  the  brighter  things  he  had  seen, 
whether  glories  of  nature  or  acts  of  man,  had  turned 
to  pictures  in  this  man's  mind.  He  flashed  these  pic- 
tures one  after  another  upon  the  trio;  he  peopled  the 
soft  and  cushioned  drawing-room  with  twenty  different 
tribes,  and  varieties  of  man — barbarous,  semi-bar- 
barous, and  civilised;  their  curious  customs,  their  songs 
and  chants,  and  dances  and  struts,  and  actual  postures. 

The  aspect  of  famous  shores  from  the  sea,  glittering 
coasts,  dark  straits,  volcanic  rocks  defying  sea  and  sky, 
and  warm  delicious  islands  clothed  with  green,  that 
burst  on  the  mariner's  sight  after  rugged  places  and 
scowling  skies. 

The  adventures  of  one  unlucky  ship,  the  Connemara, 
on  a  single  whaling  cruise,  on  the  coast  of  Peru.  The 
first  slight  signs  of  a  gale  seen  only  by  the  careful 
skipper.  The  hasty  preparation  for  it:  all  hands  to 
shorten  sail;  then  the  moaning  of  the  wind  high  up  in 


52  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  sky.  All  hands  to  reef  sail  now;  the  whirl  and 
whoo  of  the  gale  as  it  came  down  on  them.  The  ship 
careening  as  it  caught  her,  the  speaking-trumpet;  the 
captain  howling  his  order  through  it  amid  the  tumult. 

The  floating  icebergs ;  the  ship  among  them  picking 
her  way  in  and  out  a  hundred  deaths.  Baffled  by  the 
unyielding  wind  off  Cape  Horn,  sailing  six  weeks  on 
opposite  tacks  and  ending  just  where  they  began, 
weather-bound  in  sight  of  the  gloomy  Horn.  Then 
the  terrors  of  a  land-locked  bay,  and  a  lee  shore;  the 
ship  tacking,  writhing,  twisting,  to  weather  one  jutting 
promontory;  the  sea  and  safety  is  on  the  other  side  of 
it,  land  and  destruction  on  this — the  attempt,  the  hope, 
the  failure;  then  the  stout-hearted  skilful  captain 
would  try  one  rare  manoeuvre  to  save  ship,  cargo,  and 
crew.  He  would  club-haul  her,  *'and  if  that  fails,  my 
lads,  there  is  nothing  but  up  mainsail,  up  helm,  run 
her  slap  ashore,  and  lay  her  bones  on  the  softest  bit  of 
rock  we  can  pick." 

Long  ere  this,  the  poor  ship  had  become  a  live  thing 
to  all  these  four,  and  they  hung  breathless  on  her  fate. 

Then  he  showed  how  a  ship  is  club-hauled,  and 
told  how  nobly  the  old  Connemara  behaved  (ships  are 
apt  to  when  well  handled  — double-barrelled  guns  ditto) ; 
and  how  the  wind  blew  fiercer,  and  the  rocks  seemed 
to  open  their  mouths  for  her;  and  how  she  hung  and 
vibrated  between  safety  and  destruction;  and  at  last 
how  she  writhed  and  slipped  between  Death's  lips,  yet 
escaped  his  teeth,  and  tossed  and  tumbled  in  triumph 
on  the  great  but  fair-fighting  sea.  And  how  they 
got  at  last  to  the  whaling-ground,  and  could  not  find  a 
whale  for  many  a  weary  day,  and  the  novices  said, 
''they  were  all  killed  before  we  sailed,"  and  how,  as 


LOVE  ME  LONG  53 

uncommon  ill-luck  is  apt  to  be  balanced  by  uncommon 
good-luck,  one  fine  evening  they  fell  in  with  a  whole 
shoal  of  whales  at  play,  jumping  clean  into  the  air, 
sixty  feet  long,  and  coming  down  each  with  a  splash 
like  thunder.  Even  the  captain  had  never  seen  such 
a  game;  and  how  the  crew  were  for  lowering  the  boats 
and  going  at  them,  but  the  captain  would  not  let  them — 
a  hundred  playful  mountains  of  fish,  the  smallest 
weighing  thirty  ton,  flopping  down  happy-go-lucky, 
he  did  not  like  the  looks  of  it.  "The  boat  will  be  at 
the  mercy  of  chance  among  all  those  tails,  and  we  are 
not  lucky  enough  to  throw  at  random.  No;  since  the 
beggars  have  taken  to  dancing  for  a  change,  let  them 
dance  all  night,  to-morrow  they  shall  pay  the  piper." 
How  at  peep  of  day  the  man  at  the  mast-head  saw  ten 
whales  about  two  leagues  off  on  the  weather  bow,  how 
the  ship  tacked  and  stood  toward  them,  how  she  weath- 
ered on  one  of  monstrous  size;  and  how  he  and  the 
other  youngsters  were  mad  to  lower  the  boat  and  go 
after  it,  and  how  the  captain  said,  *'Ye  lubbers,  can't 
ye  see  that  is  a  right  whale,  and  not  worth  a  button.? 
Look  here,  away  over  the  quarter  at  this  whale;  see 
how  low  she  spouts :  she  is  a  sperm  whale,  and  worth 
seven  hundred  pounds  if  she  was  only  dead  and  towed 
alongside." 

"  *That  she  shall  be  in  about  a  minute,'  cried  one, 
and  indeed  we  were  all  in  a  flame;  the  boat  was  lowered, 
and  did  n't  I  worship  the  skipper  when  he  told  me  off 
to  be  one  of  her  crew! 

"I  was  that  eager  to  be  in  at  the  whale's  death,  I 
did  n't  recollect  there  might  be  smaller  brutes  in  danger. 

"Just  before  the  oars  fell  into  the  water  the  skipper 
looked  down  over  the  bulwarks,  and  says  he  to  one  of 


54  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

us  that  had  charge  of  the  rope  that  is  fast  to  the  boat 
at  one  end,  and  to  the  harpoon  at  the  other:  *Now, 
Jack,  you  are  a  new  hand  —  mind  all  I  told  you  last 
night,  or  your  mother  will  see  me  come  ashore  without 
you,  and  that  will  vex  her;  and,  my  lads,  remember 
if  there  is  a  single  lubberly  hitch  in  that  line  you  will 
none  of  you  come  up  the  ship's  side  again.' 

*'  'All  right,  captain,'  says  Jack,  and  we  pulled  off 
singing  — 

"  'And  spring  to  your  oars  and  make  your  boat  fly, 
And  when  you  come  near  her  beware  of  her  eye,* 

till  the  coxswain  bade  us  hold  our  lubberly  tongues,  and 
not  frighten  the  whales;  however  we  soon  found  we 
wanted  all  our  breath  for  our  work,  and  more  too." 
Then  David  painted  the  furious  race  after  the  whale, 
and  ''how  the  boat  gradually  gained,  and  how  at  last, 
as  he  was  grinding  his  teeth  and  pulling  like  mad,  he 
heard  a  sound  ahead  like  a  hundred  elephants  wallow- 
ing. And  now  he  hoped  to  see  the  harpooner  leave  his 
oar  and  rise  and  fling  his  weapon;  but  that  moment,  up 
flukes,  a  tower  of  fish  was  seen  a  moment  in  the  air 
with  a  tail  fin  at  the  top  of  it  'just  about  the  size  of  this 
room  we  are  sitting  in,  ladies,'  and  down  the  whale 
sounded ;  then  it  was  pull  on  again  in  her  wake,  accord- 
ing as  she  headed  in  sounding — pull  for  the  dear  life; 
and  after  a  while  the  oarsmen  saw  the  steersman's 
eyes,  prying  over  the  sea,  turn  like  hot  coals.  The 
men  caught  fire  at  this  and  put  their  very  backbones 
into  each  stroke,  and  the  boat  skimmed  and  flew;  sud- 
denly the  steersman  cried  out  fiercely:  'Stand  up, 
harpoon!'  Up  rose  the  harpooner,  his  eye  like  a  hot 
coal,  now:  the  men  saw  nothing;  they  must  pull  fiercer 


LOVE  ME  LONG  55 

than  ever;  the  harpooner  balanced  his  iron,  swayed 
his  body  Hghtly,  and  the  harpoon  hissed  from  him.  A 
soft  thud;  then  a  heaving  of  the  water  all  round,  a  slap 
that  sounded  like  a  church-tower  falling  flat  upon  an 
acre  of  boards,  and  drenched  and  bhnded  and  half 
smothered  us  all  in  spray,  and  at  the  same  moment 
away  whirled  the  boat  dancing  and  kicking  in  the 
whale's  foaming,  bubbling  wake,  and  we  holding  on  like 
grim  death  by  the  thwarts  not  to  be  spun  out  into  the  sea." 

"Delightful!"  cried  Miss  Fountain,  "the  waves 
bounded  beneath  you  like  a  steed  that  knows  its  rider 
— pray  continue." 

"Yes,  Miss  Fountain,  now  of  course  you  can  see  that 
if  the  line  ran  out  too  easy  the  whale  would  leave  us 
astern  altogether,  and  that  if  it  jammed  or  ran  too  hard, 
she  would  tow  us  under  water." 

"Of  course  we  see,"  said  Eve  ironically,  "we  under- 
stand everything  by  instinct — hang  explanations  when 
I'm  excited,  go  ahead,  do!" 

"Then  I  won't  explain  how  it  is,  or  why  it  is;  but 
I'll  just  let  you  know  that  two  or  three  hundred  fathom 
of  line  are  passed  round  and  round  the  boat  from  stem 
to  stern  and  back,  and  carried  in  and  out  between  the 
oarmen  as  they  sit.  Well,  it  was  all  new  to  me  then; 
but  when  the  boat  began  jumping  and  rocking,  and  the 
line  began  whizzing  in  and  out,  and  screaming  and 
smoking  like ,  there  now,  fancy  a  machine,  a  com- 
plicated one,  made  of  poisonous  serpents,  the  steam 
on,  and  you  sitting  in  the  middle  of  the  works  with  not 
an  inch  to  spare,  on  the  crankiest,  rockingest,  jumping- 
est,  bumpingest,  rollingest  cradle  that  ever " 

"David!"  said  Eve  solemnly. 

"Hallo!"  sang  out  David. 


56  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Don't!" 

"Oh!  yes,  do!"  cried  Lucy,  slightly  clasping  her 
hands. 

"If  this  little  black  ugly  line  was  to  catch  you,  it 
would  spin  you  out  of  the  boat  like  a  shuttlecock;  if 
it  held  you,  it  would  cut  you  in  tw^o,  or  hang  you  to 
death  and  drown  you  all  at  one  time;  and  if  it  got 
jammed  against  anything  alive  or  dead  that  could 
stand  the  strain,  it  would  take  the  boat  and  crew  down 
to  the  coral  before  you  could  wink  twice." 

"Oh,  dear,"  said  Lucy,  "then  I  don't  think 
I  like  it  now;  it  is  too  terrible  —  pray  go  on,  Mr. — 
Mr. " 

"Well,  Miss  Fountain,  when  a  novice  like  me  saw 
this  black  serpent  twisting  and  twirling,  and  smoking 
and  hissing  in  and  out  among  us,  I  remembered  the 
skipper's  words,  and  I  hailed  Jack;  it  was  he  had  laid 
the  line;  he  was  in  the  bow. 

"  *  Jack,'  said  I.  'Hallo,'  said  he.  'For  God's  sake, 
are  there  any  hitches  in  the  line.?'  said  I. 

"  'Not  as  I  knows  on,'  says  he,  much  cooler  than  you 
sit  there,  and  that  is  a  sailor  all  over.  Well,  she  towed 
us  about  a  mile  and  then  she  was  blown,  and  we  hauled 
up  on  the  line,  and  came  up  with  her  and  drove  lances 
into  her,  till  she  spouted  blood  instead  of  salt  water, 
and  went  into  her  flurry  and  rolled  suddenly  over  our 
way,  dead,  and  was  within  a  foot  of  smashing  us  to 
atoms;  but  if  she  had  it  would  only  have  been  an  acci- 
dent, for  she  was  past  malice,  poor  thing.  Then  we 
took  possession,  planted  our  flagstaff  in  her  spouting 
hole,  you  know,  and  pulled  back  to  the  ship,  and  she 
came  down  and  anchored  to  the  whale,  and  then  for 
the  first  time  I  saw  the  blubber  stripped  off  a  whale 


LOVE  ME  LONG  57 

and  hoisted  by  tackles  into  the  ship's  hold,  which  is  as 
curious  as  any  part  of  the  business,  but  a  dirtyish  job 
and  not  fit  for  the  present  company,  and  I  dare  say  that 
is  enough  about  whales." 

"No!  no!  no!" 

"Well,  then,  shall  I  tell  you  how  one  old  whale 
knocked  our  boat  clean  into  the  air,  bottom  uppermost, 
and  how  we  swam  round  her,  and  managed  to 
right    her?" 

"And  went  back  to  the  ship  and  had  your  tea  in  bed 
and  your  clothes  dried  ?" 

"No,  Eve!"  replied  David,  with  the  utmost  sim- 
plicity; "we  got  in  and  to  work  again  and  killed  the 
whale  in  less  than  half-an-hour,  and  planted  our  flag 
on  her,  and  away  after  another." 

Then  he  told  them  how  they  harpooned  one  right 
whale,  and  by  good  luck  were  able  to  make  her  fast  to 
the  stern  of  the  ship,  "and  if  you  will  believe  me.  Miss 
Fountain,  though  there  was  just  a  breath  on  and  off 
right  aft,  and  the  foresail  jib  and  mizzen  all  set  to  catch 
it,  she  towed  the  ship  astern  a  good  cable's  length,  and 
the  last  thing  was  she  broke  the  harpoon  shaft  just 
below  the  line,  and  away  she  swam  right  in  the  wind's 
eye." 

"And  there  was  an  end  of  her,  and  your  nasty  cruel 
harpoon,  and  —  oh,  I'm  so  pleased." 

"No,  there  was  n't,  Eve;  we  heard  of  both  fish  and 
harpoon  again;  but  not  for  a  good  many  years." 

"Mr.  Dodd!" 

"Yes,  Miss  Fountain;  it  is  curious  like  many  things 

that  fall  out  at  sea;  but  not  so  wonderful  as  her  towing 

a  ship  of  four  hundred  tons  with  the  foresail,  mizzen 

and  jib   all   aback.     Well,  sir,  did  you  ever  hear  of 


58  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Nantucket  ?  It  is  a  port  in  the  United  States ;  and  our 
harpooner  happened  to  be  there  full  four  years  after  we 
lost  this  whale.  Some  Yankee  whalers  were  treating 
him  to  the  best  of  grog,  and  it  was  brag  Briton,  brag 
Yankee,  according  to  custom  whenever  these  two  meet. 
Well,  our  man  had  no  more  invention  than  a  stone, 
so  he  was  getting  the  worst  of  it,  till  he  bethought  him 
of  this  whale;  so  he  up  and  told  how  he  had  struck  a 
right  whale  in  the  Pacific,  and  she  had  towed  the  ship 
with  her  sails  aback,  at  least  her  foresail,  mizzen,  and 
jib,  only  he  did  n't  tell  it  short  like  me,  but  as  long  as 
the  Red  Sea,  with  the  day  and  the  hour,  the  latitude 
(within  four  or  five  degrees,  I  take  it),  and  what  he  had 
done  a  week  before,  and  what  we  had  not  done,  all 
by  way  of  prologue,  and  for  fear  of  weathering  the 
Horn,  tic,  tic,  the  point  of  the  story  too  soon.  When 
he  had  done  there  was  a  general  howl  of  laughter,  and 
they  began  to  cap  lies  with  him;  and  so  they  bantered 
him  most  cruelly  by  all  accounts.  But  at  last  a  long, 
silent  chap,  weather-beaten  to  the  colour  of  rosewood, 
put  in  his  word  — 

*'  *What  was  the  ship's  name,  mate?" 

"  'The  Connemara,'  says  he. 

"  *  And  what  is  your  name  ?'  So  he  told  him, '  Jem 
Green.' 

"The  other  brings  a  great  mutton  fist  down  on  the 
table,  and  makes  all  the  glasses  dance.  'You  stay  at 
your  moorings  till  I  come  back,'  says  he.  'I  have  got 
something  belonging  to  you,  Jem  Green,'  and  he 
sheered  off.  The  others  lay-to  and  passed  the  grog. 
Presently  the  long  one  comes  back  with  a  harpoon  steel 
in  his  hand;  there  was  Connemara  stamped  on  it,  and 
also '  James  Green '  graved  with  a  knife.    *  Is  that  yours  ? ' 


LOVE  ME  LONG  59 

'Is  my  hand  mine?'  says  Jem;  *but  wasn't  there  a 
broken  shaft  to  it  ? ' 

*'  'There  was,'  says  the  Yankee  harpooner,  'I  cut 
it  out.' 

"  'Well!'  says  Jem,  'that  is  the  harpoon  we  were 
fast  by  to  this  very  whale  —  where  did  you  kill  her  ?' 

"  'In  the  Greenland  seas;'  and  he  whips  out  his 
private  log.  'Here  you  are,'  says  he:  'March  25,  1820, 
latitude  so  and  so  —  killed  a  right  whale,  lost  half  the 
blubber  owing  to  the  carcass  sinking  —  cut  an  English 
harpoon  out  of  her.' 

"  'Avast  there,  mate!'  cries  Jem,  and  he  whips  out 
his  log;  'overhaul  that.'  The  other  harpooner  over- 
hauled it.  'Mates,  look  here,'  says  he,  'I  reckon  we 
han't  fathomed  the  critters  yet.  The  Britisher  stuck 
her  in  the  Pacific  on  the  5th  of  March,  and  we  killed 
her  off  Greenland  on  the  25th,  five  thousand  miles  of 
water  by  the  lowest  reckoning.'  By  this  time  there  were 
a  dozen  heads  jammed  together,  like  bees  swarming, 
over  the  two  logs.  'She  got  a  wound  in  the  Pacific! 
"Hallo!"  says  she;  "this  is  no  sea  for  a  lady  to  live  in;" 
so  she  up  helm  and  right  away  across  the  Pole  into  the 
Atlantic,  and  met  her  death.'  " 

"Your  story  has  an  interest  you  little  suspect,  young 
gentleman.  If  this  is  true  the  North-west  Passage  is 
proved." 

"That  has  been  proved  a  hundred  times,  sir,  and  in  a 
hundred  ways;  the  only  riddle  is  to  find  it.  The  man 
that  tells  you  there  is  not  a  north-west  passage  is  no 
sailor,  and  the  fish  that  can't  find  it  is  not  a  whale;  for 
there  is  not  a  young  suckling,  no  bigger  than  this  room, 
that  does  not  know  that  passage  as  well  as  a  mid  on  his 
first  voyage  knows  the  way  to  the  mizzen  top  through 


60  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

lubber's  hole  —  how  tired  you  must  be  of  whales, 
ladies?" 

**Oh,  no!" 

*'Kill  us  one  more,  David!  I  love  bloodshed  —  to 
hear  of." 

**  Well,  now,  I  don't  think  that  can  be  Miss  Fountain's 
taste,  to  look  at  her." 

Then  David  told  them  how  he  had  fallen  in  with  a 
sperm  whale  dead  of  disease,  floating  as  high  as  a 
frigate;  how,  with  a  very  light  breeze,  the  skipper  had 
crept  down  towards  her;  how  at  half  a  mile  distance  the 
stench  of  her  was  severe,  but  as  they  neared  her,  awful 

—  then  so  intolerable,  that  the  skipper  gave  the  crew 
leave  to  go  below,  and  close  the  lee-ports.  So  there 
were  but  two  men  left  on  the  brig's  deck,  and  a  ship's 
company  that  a  hurricane  would  not  have  driven  from 
their  duty  skulked  before  a  foul  smell ;  but  such  a  smell 

—  a  smell  that  struck  a  chill  and  a  loathing  to  the  heart 
and  soul  and  marrow-bone,  a  smell  like  the  gases  in  a 
foul  mine;  *'it  would  have  suffocated  us  in  a  few  min- 
utes if  we  had  been  shut  up  along  with  it."  Then  he 
told  how  the  skipper  and  he  stuffed  their  noses  and 
ears  with  cotton  steeped  in  aromatic  vinegar,  and  their 
mouths  with  pig-tail  (by  which,  as  it  subsequently 
appeared,  Lucy  understood  pork  or  bacon  in  some  form 
unknown  to  her  narrow  experience)  and  lighted  short 
pipes  and  breached  the  brig  upon  the  putrescent 
monster,  and  grappled  to  it,  and  then  the  skipper 
jumped  on  it,  a  basket  slung  to  his  back,  and  a  rope 
fast  under  his  shoulders  in  case  of  accidents,  and  drove 
his  spade  in  behind  the  whale's  side-fin. 

"His  spade,  Mr.  Dodd.?" 

'*  His  whale-spade;  it  is  as  sharp  as  a  razor;"  and  how 


LOVE  ME  LONG  61 

the  skipper  dug  a  hole  in  the  whale  as  big  as  a  well  and 
four  feet  deep,  and,  after  a  long  search,  gave  a  shout  of 
triumph  and  picked  out  some  stuff  that  looked  like 
Gloucester  cheese;  and  when  he  had  nearly  filled  his 
basket  with  this  stujBF,  he  slacked  the  grappling  iron, 
and  David  hauled  him  on  board  and  the  carcass  dropped 
astern,  and  the  captain  sang  out  for  rum,  and  drank 
a  small  tumbler  neat,  and  would  have  fainted  away, 
spite  of  his  precautions,  but  for  the  rum,  and  how  a 
heavenly  perfume  was  now  on  deck  fighting  with  that 
horrid  odour.  And  how  the  crew  smelt  it  and  crept 
timidly  up  one  by  one,  and  how,  "the  Gloster  cheese 
was  a  great  favourite  of  yours,  ladies;  it  was  the  king 
of  perfumes  —  ambergris.  There  is  some  of  it  in  all 
your  richest  scents ;  and  the  knowing  skipper  had  made 
a  hundred  guineas  in  the  turn  of  the  hand.  So  knowl- 
edge is  wealth,  you  see,  and  the  sweet  can  be  got  out 
of  the  sour  by  such  as  study  nature." 

**  Don't  preach,  David,  especially  after  just  telling 
a  fib  —  a  hundred  guineas!!" 

"I  am  wrong,"  said  David. 

"'Very  wrong,  indeed." 

**  There  were  eight  pounds,  and  he  sold  it  a  guinea 
the  ounce  to  a  wholesale  chemist;  so  that  looks  to  me 
like  <£128." 

Then  David  left  the  whales,  and  encouraged  by 
bright  eyes  and  winning  smiles  and  warm  questions, 
sang  higher  strains.  • 

Ships  in  dire  distress  at  sea,  yet  saved  by  God's 
mercy  and  the  cool  invincible  courage  of  captain  and 
crew  —  great  ships  run  ashore  —  the  waves  breaking 
them  up  —  the  rigging  black  with  the  despairing  crew 
eyeing  the  watery  death  that  tumbled  and  gaped  and 


ee  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

roared  for  them  below  —  and  then  Uttle  shore  boats, 
manned  by  daring  hearts,  launched  into  the  surf,  and 
going  out  to  the  great  ship  and  her  peril,  risking  more 
life  for  the  chance  of  saving  life.  And  he  did  not  present 
the  bare  skeletons  of  daring  acts;  those  grand  morgues, 
the  journals,  do  that.  There  lie  the  dry  bones  of  giant 
epics  waiting  Genius'  hand  to  make  them  live.  He 
gave  them  not  only  the  broad  outward  facts,  the  bones ; 
but  those  smaller  touches  that  are  the  body  and  soul 
of  a  story  true  or  false;  wanting  which  the  deeds  of 
heroes  sound  an  almanac.  Above  all,  he  gave  them 
glimpses  not  only  of  what  men  acted,  but  what  they 
felt;  what  passed  in  the  hearts  of  men  perishing  at  sea, 
in  sight  of  land,  houses,  fires  on  the  hearth,  and  out- 
stretched hands;  and  in  the  hearts  of  the  heroes  that 
ran  their  boats  into  the  surf  and  Death's  maw  to  save 
them;  and  of  the  lookers-on,  admiring,  fearing,  shiver- 
ing, glowing;  and  of  the  women  that  sobbed  and  prayed 
ashore  with  their  backs  to  the  sea,  just  able  to  risk 
lover,  husband,  and  son  for  the  honour  of  manhood, 
and  the  love  of  Christ;  but  not  able  to  look  on  at  their 
own  flesh  and  blood  diving  so  deep,  and  lost  so  long, 
in  cockle-shells  between  the  hills  of  waves. 

Such  great  acts,  great  feelings,  great  perils,  and  the 
gushes  that  crowned  all  of  holy  triumph,  when  the  boats 
came  in  with  the  dripping  and  saved,  and  man  for  a 
moment  looked  greater  than  the  sea,  and  the  wind  and 
death,  this  seaman  poured  hot  from  his  own  manly 
heart  into  quick  and  womanly  bosoms,  that  heaved 
visibly  and  glowed  with  admiring  sympathy  and 
fluttered   with   gentle   fear. 

And  after  a  while,  though  not  at  first,  David's  yarns 
began  to  contain  a  double  interest  to  one  of  the  party  — 


LOVE  ME  LONG  63 

Miss  Fountain.  Those  who  live  to  please  get  to  read 
character  at  sight,  and  David,  though  in  these  more 
noble  histories  he  scarcely  named  himself,  was  laying 
a  full-length  picture  of  his  own  mind  bare  to  these  keen 
feminine  eyes.  As  for  old  Fountain  he  was  charmed, 
and  saw  nothing  more  than  David  showed  him  outright. 
But  the  women  sat  flashing  secret  intelligence  back- 
wards and  forwards  from  eye  to  eye  after  the  manner  of 
their  sex. 

*'Do  you  see,"  said  one  lady's  eyes. 

**Yes,"  replied  the  other.  "He  was  concerned  in 
this  feat,  though  he  does  not  say  so." 

"Oh!  you  agree  with  me?  Then  we  are  right," 
replied  the  first  pair  of  speakers. 

"There  again,  look,  this  sailor  whom  he  describes  as 
a  fellow,  that  happened  to  be  ashore  at  that  foreign 
part  with  nothing  better  to  do,  and  who  went  out  with 
the  English  smugglers  to  save  the  brig  when  the  natives 
durst  not  launch  a  boat.?" 

"Himself!  not  a  doubt  of  it." 

And  so  the  blue  and  hazel  lightning  went  dancing  to 
and  fro;  ay,  even  when  the  tale  took  a  sorrowful  turn, 
and  dimmed  these  bright  orbs  of  intelligence,  the  light- 
ning struggled  through  the  dew,  and  David  was  read 
and  discussed  by  gleams  and  glances  and  flashes  with- 
out a  word  spoken.  And  he,  all  unconscious  that  he 
sat  between  a  pair  of  telegraphs,  and  heating  more  and 
more  under  his  great  recollections,  and  his  hearers' 
sympathy,  enthralled  them  with  his  tuneful  voice,  his 
glowing*  face,  his  lion  eye,  and  his  breathing,  burning 
histories:  heart  to  dare  and  do,  yet  heart  to  feel,  and 
bram  and  tongue  to  tell  a  deed  well,  are  rare  allies,  yet 
here  they  met.     He  mastered  his  hearers,  and  played 


64  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

on  their  breasts  as  David  played  the  harp,  and  perhaps 
Achilles,  Bochsa  never,  nor  any  of  his  tribe.  He  made 
the  old  man  forget  his  genealogies,  his  small  ambition, 
his  gout,  his  years,  and  be  a  boy  again  an  hour  or  two 
in  thought  and  blood  and  early  fire.  He  made  the 
women's  bosoms  pant  and  swell,  and  seem  to  aspire 
to  be  the  nests  and  cradles  of  heroes,  and  their  eyes 
flash  and  glisten,  and  their  cheeks  flush  and  grow  pale 
by  turns ;  and  the  four  little  papered  walls  that  confined 
them  seemed  to  fall  without  noise,  and  they  were  away 
in  thought  out  of  a  carpeted  temple  of  wax,  small  talk, 
nonentity,  and  nonentities;  away  to  sea-breezes,  that 
they  almost  felt  in  their  hair  and  round  their  temples 
as  their  hearts  rose  and  fell  upon  a  broad  swell  of  passion, 
perils,  waves,  male  men,  realities.  The  spell  was  at 
its  height,  when  the  sea-wizard's  eye  fell  on  the  mantel- 
piece. Died  in  a  moment  his  noble  ardour:  *'Why,  it's 
eight  bells,"  said  he  servilely;  then  doggedly,  "time  to 
turn  in." 

*'Hang  that  clock!"  shouted  Mr.  Fountain,  **I '11 
have  it  turned  out  of  the  room." 

Said  Lucy,  with  gentle  enthusiasm,  "It  must  be 
beautiful  to  be  a  sailor,  and  to  have  seen  the  real  world, 

and  above  all  to  be  brave  and  strong  like  Mr. , 

must  it  not,  uncle.?"  and  she  looked  askant  at  David's 
square  shoulders  and  lion  eye,  and  for  the  first  time  in 
her  life  there  crossed  her  an  undefined  instinct  that  this 
gentleman  must  be  the  male  of  her  species. 

"As  for  his  courage,"  said  Eve,  "that  we  have  only 
his  own  word  for." 

David  grinned. 

"Nor  even  that,"  replied  Lucy,  "for  I  observed  he 
spoke  but  little  of  himself." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  65 

"I  did  not  notice  that,"  said  Eve  pertly;  "but  as  for 
his  strength,  he  certainly  is  as  strong  as  a  great  bear; 
and  as  rude.  What  do  you  think?  my  lord  carried 
me  all  the  way  from  the  top  of  the  green  lane  to  your 
house,  and  I  am  no  feather." 

*'No,  a  skein  of  silk,"  put  in  David. 

"I  asked  the  gentleman  politely  to  put  me  down,  and 
he  would  n't,  so  then  I  boxed  his  ears." 

"Oh!  how  could  you.?" 

'*  Oh !  bless  you !  he  never  hits  me  again ;  he  is  too  great 
a  coward.  And  the  great  mule  carried  me  all  the  more 
—  carried  me  to  your  very  door." 

"I  almost  think,  I  believe,  I  could  guess  why  he 
carried  you,  if  you  will  not  be  offended  at  my  assuming 
the  interpreter,"  said  Lucy,  looking  at  Eve,  and  speak- 
ing at  David.  "You  have  thin  shoes  on.  Miss  Dodd; 
now  I  remember  the  gravel  ends  at  green  lane  and  the 
grass  begins ;  so,  from  what  we  now  know  of  Mr.  Dodd, 
perhaps  he  carried  you  that  you  might  not  have  damp 
feet." 

"Nothing  of  the  kind  —  yes  it  was,  though,  by  his 
colouring  up.     La,  David,  dear  boy!" 

"What  is  a  man  alongside  for,  but  to  keep  a  girl 
out  of  mischief.?"  said  David  brusquely. 

"Pray,  convert  all  your  sex  to  that  view,"  laughed 
Lucy. 

So  now  they  were  going.  Then  Mr.  Fountain 
thanked  David  for  the  pleasant  evening  he  had  given 
them;  then  David  blushed  and  stammered  —  he  had 
a  veneration  for  old  age,  another  of  his  superstitions. 

Her  uncle's  lead  gave  Lucy  an  opportunity  she 
instantly  seized.  "Mr.  Dodd,  you  have  taken  us  into 
a  new  world  of  knowledge;  we  never  were  so  interested 


66  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

in  our  lives."  At  this  point-blank  praise  David 
blushed,  and  was  anything  but  comfortable;  and  began 
to  back  out  of  it  all  with  a  curt  bow.  Then  as  the 
ladies  can  advance  when  a  man  of  merit  retreats,  Lucy 
went  the  length  of  putting  out  her  hand  with  a  sweet 
grateful  smile;  so  he  took  it,  and,  in  the  ardour  of 
encouraging  so  much  spirit  and  modesty,  she  uncon- 
sciously pressed  his  hand.  On  this  delicious  pressure, 
light  as  it  was,  he  raised  his  full  brown  eye,  and  gave 
her  such  a  straightforward  look  of  manly  admiration 
and  pleasure,  that  she  blushed  faintly  and  drew  back 
a  little  in  her  turn. 

"Well,  Davy,  dear,  how  do  you  like  the  Fountains .?" 

*'Eve,  she  is  a  clipper!" 

"And  the  old  gentleman.?" 

"He  was  very  friendly.  What  do  you  think  of 
her.?" 

"She  is  an  out-and-out  woman  of  the  world  —  and 
very  agreeable,  as  insincere  people  generally  are.  I 
like  her,  because  she  was  so  polite  to  you." 

"Oh,  that  is  your  reading  of  her,  is  it.?" 

The  rest  of  the  walk  passed  almost  in  silence. 

"Uncle,  I  am  not  sleepy  to-night." 

"No  more  am  I.  That  young  rascal  has  set  me  on 
fire  with  his  yarns;  who  would  have  thought  that  awk- 
ward cub  had  so  much  in  him .?" 

"Awkward;  but  not  a  cub  —  say,  rather,  a  black 
swan;  and  you  know,  uncle,  a  swan  is  an  awkward 
thing  on  land,  but  when  it  takes  the  water  it  is 
glorious,  and  that  man  was  glorious ;  but  —  Da  —  vid 
Do  — dd." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  67 

"I  don't  know  whether  he  was  glorious,  but  I  know 
he  amused  me,  and  I  '11  have  him  to  tea  three  times  a 
week  while  he  lasts." 

"Uncle,  do  you  believe  such  an  unfortunate  com- 
bination of  sounds  is  his  real  name?"  asked  Lucy 
gravely. 

**  Why,  who  would  be  mad  enough  to  feign  such  a 
name.?" 

**That  is  true,  but  now,  tell  me  —  if  he  should  ever 
think  of  marrying  with  such  a  name.?" 

*  'Then  there  will  be  two  David  Dodds  in  the  world, 
Mr.  and  Mrs." 

**I  don't  think  so;  he  will  be  merciful,  and  take  her 
name  instead  of  she  his  —  he  is  so  good-natured." 

"Ordinary  sponsors  would  have  been  content  with 
Samuel  or  Nathan;  but  no,  his  ones  must  call  in  'apt 
alliteration's  artful  aid,'  and  have  the  two  'd's.'  " 

Lucy  assented  with  a  smile,  and  so,  being  no  longer 
under  the  spell  of  the  enthusiast,  and  the  male,  the 
genealogist  and  the  fine  lady  took  the  rise  out  of  what 
Miss  Fountain  was  pleased  to  call  his  impossible  title. 

Da  —  vid  Dodd. 

Lucy  was  not  called  on  to  write  any  more  formal 
invitations  to  Mr.  Talboys.  Her  uncle  used  merely 
to  say  to  her,  "Talboys  dines  with  us  to-day."  She 
made  no  remark,  she  respected  her  uncle's  preference; 
besides  —  the  pony.  Of  these  trios  Mr.  Fountain  was 
the  true  soul.  He  had  to  blow  the  coals  of  conversation 
right  and  left.  It  is  very  good  of  me  not  to  compare  him 
to  the  Tropic  between  two  frigid  zones.  At  first  he 
took  his  nap  as  usual;  for  he  said  to  himself,  "Now  I 
have  started  them  they  can  go  on."     Besides,  he  had 


68  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

seen  pictures  in  the  shop  windows  of  an  old  fellow 
dozing,  and  then  the  young  ones  "popping." 

Dozing  off  with  this  idea  uppermost,  he  used  to  wake 
with  his  eyes  shut  and  his  ears  wide  open;  but  it  was 
to  hear  drowsy  monosyllables  dropping  out  at  intervals 
like  minute-guns,  or  to  find  Lucy  gone  and  Talboys 
reading  the  coals.  Then  the  schemer  sighed,  and  took 
to  strong  coffee  soon  after  dinner,  and  gave  up  his  nap; 
and  its  loss  impaired  his  temper  the  rest  of  the  evening. 

He  indemnified  himself  for  these  laborious  and  sleep- 
less dinners  by  asking  David  Dodd  and  his  sister  to  tea 
thrice  a  week,  on  the  off-nights;  this  joyous  pair  amused 
the  poor  old  gentleman,  and  he  was  not  the  man  to 
deny  himself  a  pleasure  without  a  powerful  motive. 

*'What,  again,  so  soon.?"  hazarded  Lucy,  one  day 
that  he  bade  her  invite  them.  *'I  hardly  know  how 
to  word  my  invitation  —  I  have  exhausted  the  forms." 

"If  you  say  another  word,  I  '11  make  them  come 
every  night.  Am  I  to  have  no  amusement  ?"  he  added, 
in  a  deep  tone  of  reproach,  "they  make  me  laugh." 

*'Ah!  I  forgot,  forgive  me." 

"Little  hypocrite:  don't  they  you  too,  pray.?  why, 
you  are  as  dull  as  ditch-water  the  other  evenings." 

"Me,  dear,  dull  with  you.?" 

"Yes,  Miss  Crocodile;  dull  with  a  pattern  uncle, 
and  his  friend  —  and  your  admirer."  He  watched  her 
to  see  how  she  would  take  this  last  word.  Catch  her 
taking  it  at  all.  "I  am  never  dull  with  you,  dear  uncle," 
said  she;  "but  a  third  person,  however  estimable,  is 
a  certain  restraint,  and  when  that  person  is  not  very 

lively "  Here  the  explanation  came  quietly  to  an 

untimely  end,  like  those  old  tunes  that  finish  in  the 
middle  or  thereabouts. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  69 

''But  that  is  the  very  thing;  what  do  I  ask  them  for 
to-night   but  to   thaw  Talboys!" 

"To  thaw  Talboys?  he,  he!"  Lucy  seemed  so 
tickled  by  this  expression,  that  the  old  gentleman  was 
sorry  he  had  used  it. 

**I  mean,  they  will  make  him  laugh;"  then  to  turn 
it  off  he  said  hastily,  "and  don't  forget  the  fiddle,  Lucy." 

"Oh,  yes,  dear,  please  let  me  forget  that,  and  then 
perhaps  they  may  forget  to  bring  it." 

"Why,  you  pressed  him  to  bring  it,  I  heard  you." 

"Did  I.?"  said  Lucy  ruefully. 

"I  am  sure  I  thought  you  were  mad  after  a  fiddle  — 
you  seconded  Eve  so  warmly;  so  that  was  only  your 
extravagant  politeness  after  all.  I  am  glad  you  are 
caught.     I  like  a  fiddle;  so  there  is  no  harm  done." 

Yes,  reader,  you  have  hit  it.  Eve,  who  openly 
quizzed  her  brother,  but  secretly  adored  him,  and 
loved  to  display  all  his  accomplishments,  had  egged 
on  Mr.  Fountain  to  ask  David  to  bring  his  violin  next 
time.  Lucy  had  shivered  internally,  "Now  of  all  the 
screeching,  whining  things  that  I  dislike,  a  violin!"  — 
and  thus  thinking  gushed  out,  "Oh,  pray  do,  Mr. 
Dodd,"  with  a  gentle  warmth  that  settled  the  matter, 
and  imposed  on  all  around. 

This  evening  then  the  Dodds  came  to  tea. 

They  found  Lucy  alone  in  the  drawing-room,  and 
Eve  engaged  her  directly  in  sprightly  conversation,  into 
which  they  soon  drew  David;  and  interchanging  a 
secret  signal,  plied  him  with  a  few  artful  questions  and 
—  launched  him.  But  the  one  sketch  I  gave  of  his  man- 
ner and  matter  must  serve  again  and  again.  Were  I 
to  retail  to  the  reader  all  the  droll,  the  spirited,  the  excit- 
ing things  he  told  his  hearers,  there  would  be  no  room 


70  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

for  my  own  little  story;  and  we  are  all  so  egotistical. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  the  living  book  of  travels  was  inex- 
haustible; his  observation  and  memory  were  really 
marvellous;  and  his  enthusiasm,  coupled  with  his 
accuracy  of  detail,  had  still  the  power  to  enthral  his 
hearers. 

"Mr.  Dodd,"  said  Lucy,  "now  I  see  why  Eastern 
kings  have  a  story-teller  always  about  them,  a  live 
story-teller.  Would  not  you  have  one.  Miss  Dodd,  if 
you  were  Queen  of  Persia.?" 

"Me.?  I'd  have  a  couple  —  one  to  make  me  laugh, 
one  miserable." 

"One  would  be  enough  if  his  resources  were  equal 
to  your  brother's.  Pray  go  on,  Mr.  Dodd!  It  was 
madness  to  interrupt  you  with  small  talk." 

David  hung  his  head  a  moment,  then  lifted  it  with 
a  smile,  and  sailed  in  the  spirit  into  the  China  seas; 
and  there  told  them  how  the  Chinamen  used  to  slip  on 
board  his  ship  and  steal  with  supernatural  dexterity, 
and  the  sailors  catch  them  by  the  tails,  which  they 
observing,  came  ever  with  their  tails  soaped  Uke  pigs' 
at  a  village  feast;  and  how  some  foolhardy  sailors  would 
venture  into  the  town  at  the  risk  of  their  lives ;  and  how 
one  day  they  had  to  run  for  it,  and  when  they  got  to 
the  shore  their  boat  was  stolen,  and  they  had  to  'bout 
ship  and  fight  it  out,  and  one  fellow,  who  knew  the  na- 
tives, had  loaded  the  sailors'  guns  with  currant  jelly. 
Make  ready  —  present  —  fire !  In  a  moment  the  troops 
of  the  Celestial  Empire  smarted,  and  were  spattered  with 
seeming  gore,  and  fled  yelling. 

Then  he  told  how  a  poor  comrade  of  his  was  nabbed 
and  clapped  in  prison,  and  his  hands  and  feet  were  to 
be  cut  off  at  sunrise :  himself  at  noon.     It  was  midnight, 


LOVE  ME  LONG  71 

and  strict  orders  from  the  quarter-deck  that  no  man 
should  leave  the  ship;  what  was  to  be  done?  It  was 
a  moonlight  night.  They  met  silent  as  death  between 
decks  —  dare  n't  speak  above  a  whisper,  for  fear  the 
officers  should  hear  them.  His  messmate  was  crying 
like  a  child.  One  proposed  one  thing,  one  another;  but 
it  was  all  nonsense,  and  we  knew  it  was,  and  at  sunrise 
poor  Tom  must  die. 

At  last  up  jumps  one  fellow,  and  cries,  "Messmates, 
I've  got  it,  Tom  isn't  dead  yet!" 

This  was  the  moment  Mr.  Fountain  and  Mr.  Talboys 
chose  for  coming  into  the  drawing-room,  of  course. 
Mr.  Fountain,  with  a  shade  of  hesitation  and  awkward- 
ness, introduced  the  Dodds  to  Mr.  Talboys:  he  bowed 
a  little  stiffly,  and  there  was  a  pause.  Eve  could  not 
repress  a  little  movement  of  nervous  impatience.  '*  David 
is  telling  us  one  of  his  nonsensical  stories,  sir,"  said 
she,  to  Mr.  Fountain,  "and  it  is  so  interesting,  go  on, 
David." 

"Well,  but,"  said  David  modestly,  "it  isn't  every- 
body that  likes  these  sea-yarns  as  you  do.  Eve.  No, 
I'll  belay,  and  let  my  betters  get  a  word  in  now." 

"You  are  more  merciful  than  most  story-tellers, 
sir,"  said  Talboys. 

Eve  tossed  her  head  and  looked  at  Lucy,  who  with  a 
word  could  have  the  story  on  again.  That  young  lady's 
face  expressed  general  complacency,  politeness,  and 
^'tout  m'est  egaU^  Eve  could  have  beat  her  for  not 
taking  David's  part.  "Double  face!"  thought  she. 
She  then  devoted  herself  with  the  sly  determination  of 
her  sex  to  trotting  David  out  and  making  him  the 
principal  figure  in  spite  of  the  new  comer. 


72  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

But  as  fast  as  she  heated  him,  Talboys  cooled  him. 
We  are  all  great  at  something  or  other,  small  or  great. 
Talboys  was  a  first-rate  freezer.  He  was  one  of  those 
men  who  cannot  shine  but  can  eclipse.  They  darken 
all  but  a  vain  man  by  casting  a  dark  shadow  of  trite 
sentences  on  each  luminary.  The  vain  man  insults 
them  directly,  and  so  gets  rid  of  them. 

Talboys  kept  coming  across  honest  enthusiastic 
David  with  little  remarks,  each  skilfully  discordant 
with  the  rising  sentiment.  Was  he  droll,  Talboys  did 
a  bit  of  polite  gravity  on  him;  was  he  warm  in  praise 
of  some  gallant  action,  chill  irony  trickled  on  him  from  T. 

His  flashes  of  romance  were  extinguished  by  neat 
little  dicta,  embodying  sordid  and  false,  but  current, 
views  of  life.  The  gauze  wings  of  eloquence  unsteeled 
by  vanity  will  not  bear  this  repeated  dabbing  with  prose 
glue,  so  David  collapsed  and  Talboys  conquered  — 
*'speir*  benumbed  *' charm."  The  sea-wizard  yielded 
to  the  petrifier,  and  "could  no  more,"  as  the  poets  say. 
Talboys  smiled  superior;  but,  as  his  art  was  a  purely 
destructive  one,  it  ended  with  its  victim.  Not  having 
an  idea  of  his  own  in  his  skull,  the  commentator,  in 
silencing  his  text,  silenced  himself,  and  brought  the 
society  to  a  standstill.  Eve  sat  with  flashing  eyes. 
Lucy's  twinkled  with  sly  fun — this  made  Eve  angrier. 
She  tried  another  tack. 

"You  asked  David  to  bring  his  fiddle,"  said  she 
sharply,  "but  I  suppose  now " 

"Has  he  brought  it.?"  asked  Mr.  Fountain  eagerly. 

"Yes,  he  has,  I  made  him."  (With  a  glance  of 
defiance  at  Talboys.) 

Mr.  Fountain  rang  the  bell  directly  and  sent  for  the 
fiddle.     It  came,  David  took  it,  and  tuned  it  and  made 


LOVE  ME  LONG  73 

it  discourse.  Lucy  leaned  a  little  back  in  her  chair 
and  wore  her  ''tout  m'est  egal  face,"  and  Eve  watched 
her  like  a  cat.  First  her  eyes  opened  with  mild  aston- 
ishment, then  her  lips  parted  in  a  smile;  after  a  while 
a  faint  colour  came  and  went,  and  her  eyes  deepened 
and  deepened  in  colour  and  glistened  with  the  dewy 
light  of  sensibility. 

A  fiddle  wrought  this,  or  rather  genius;  in  whose 
hand  a  Jew's  harp  is  the  lyre  of  Orpheus,  a  fiddle  the 
harp  of  David,  a  chisel  a  hewer  of  heroic  forms,  a  brush 
or  a  pen  the  sceptre  of  souls,  and,  alas !  a  nail  a  picklock. 

Inside  every  fiddle  is  a  soul,  but  a  coy  one.  The 
nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  never  win  it.  They  play 
rapid  tunes,  but  the  soul  of  beautiful  gaiety  is  not  there; 
slow  tunes,  very  slow  ones,  wherein  the  spirit  of  whin- 
ing is  mighty,  but  the  sweet  soul  of  pathos  is  absent  — 
doleful,  not  nice  and  tearful.  Then  comes  the  Heaven- 
born  fiddler,*  who  can  make  himself  cry  with  his  own 
fiddle.  David  had  a  touch  of  this  witchcraft.  Though 
a  sound  musician  and  reasonably  master  of  his  instru- 
ment, he  could  not  fly  in  a  second  up  and  down  it, 
tickling  the  finger-board,  and  scratching  the  strings 
without  an  atom  of  tone,  as  the  mechanical  monkeys 
do  that  boobies  call  fine  players  — 

**  Great  Orpheus  played  so  well  he  moved  Old  Nick 
But  these  move  nothing  but  their  fiddlestick."  f 

But  he  could  make  you  laugh  and  crow  with  his 
fiddle,  and  could  make  you  jump  up,  cetat,  60,  and  snap 
your  fingers  at  old  age  and  propriety,  and  propose  a 
jig  to  two  bishops  and  one  master  of  the  rolls,  and  they 

*  This  is  a  definition  of  the  Heaven-born  fiddler  by  Pate  Bailey,  a  gipsy  tinker  and  celestial 
violinist.  Being  asked  for  a  test  of  proficiency  on  that  instrument,  he  replied  that  no  man 
is  a  fiddler  "till  he  can  gar  himsel  greet  wi'  a  feddle." 

t  See  how  unjust  satire  is !    Don't  they  move  their  finger-nails  ? 


74  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

declining,  pity  them  without  a  shade  of  anger  and  sub- 
stitute three  chairs — then  sit  unabashed  and  smiUng 
at  the  past;  and  the  next  minute  he  could  make  you 
cry,  or  near  it.  In  a  word,  he  could  evoke  the  soul  of 
that  wonderful  wooden  shell,  and  bid  it  discourse  with 
the  souls  and  hearts  of  his  hearers. 

Meantime  Lucy  Fountain's  face  would  have  inter- 
ested a  subtle  student  of  her  sex. 

Her  sensibility  to  music  was  great,  and  the  feeling 
strains  stole  into  her  nature  and  stirred  the  treasures  of 
the  deep  to  the  surface.  Eve,  a  keen  if  not  a  profound 
observer,  was  struck  by  the  rising  beauty  of  this  coun- 
tenance over  which  so  many  moods  chased  one  another. 
She  said  to  herself:  ''Well,  David  is  right  after  all. 
She  is  a  lovely  girl.  Her  features  are  nothing  out  of  the 
way.  Her  nose  is  neither  one  thing  nor  the  other;  but 
her  expression  is  beautiful.  None  of  your  wooden 
faces  for  me.  And,  dear  heart,  how  her  neck  rises! 
La,  how  her  colour  comes  and  goes!  Well,  I  do  love 
the  fiddle  myself  dearly;  and  now,  if  her  eyes  are  not 
brimming — I  could  kiss  her!  La,  David,"  cried  she, 
bursting  the  bonds  of  silence,  "that  is  enough  of  the 
tune  the  old  cow  died  of;  take  and  play  something  to 
keep  our  hearts  up,  do." 

Eve's  good-humour  and  mirth  were  restored  by 
David's  success,  and  now  nothing  would  serve  her 
turn  but  a  duet,  pianoforte  and  violin.  Miss  Fountain 
objected — ''Why  spoil  the  violin.?"  David  objected 
too — "I  had  hoped  to  hear  the  pianoforte,  and  how  can 
I  with  a  fiddle  sounding  under  my  chin.?"  Eve  over- 
ruled both  peremptorily. 

"Well,  Miss  Dodd,  what  shall  we  select  ?  but  it  does 
not  matter,  I  feel  sure  Mr.  Dodd  can  play  a  livre  ouvert/' 


LOVE  ME  LONG  75 

— ^•'Not  he,"  said  Eve  hypocritically,  being  secretly 
convinced  he  could.  "Can  you  play  'a  leevre  ouvert,' 
David?  —  Who  is  it  by.  Miss  Fountain?"  Lucy 
never  moved  a  muscle. 

After  a  rummage  a  duet  was  found  that  looked 
promising;  and  the  performance  began. 

In  the  middle  David  stopped. 

"Ha,  ha!  David's  broke  down,"  shrieked  Eve, 
concealing  her  uneasiness  under  fictitious  gaiety.  "I 
thought  he  would." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  explained  David  to  Miss  Foun- 
tain, "but  you  are  out  of  time." 

"Am  I?"  said  Lucy  composedly. 

"And  have  been  more  or  less  all  through." 

"David,  you  forget  yourself." 

"No,  no,  set  me  right  by  all  means,  Mr.  Dodd.  I 
am  not  a  hardened  offender." 

"Is  it  not  just  possible  the  violin  may  be  the  instru- 
ment that  is  out  of  time?"  suggested  Talboys  in- 
siduously.    - 

"No,"  said  David  simply,  "I  was  right  enough." 

"Let  us  try  again,  Mr.  Dodd.  Play  me  a  few  bars 
first  in  exact  time.     Thank  you! — now " 

"All  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell,"  for  a  page  and 
a  half;  then  David  fiddling  away  cried  out,  "You  are 
getting  too  fast,  'ri  tum  tiddy  iddy  ri  tum  ti,'  "  then  by 
stapiping  and  accenting  very  strongly  he  kept  the  piano 
from  overflowing  its  bounds.  The  piece  ended.  Eve 
rubbed  her  hands.     "Now  you'll  catch  it,  Mr.  David." 

"I  am  afraid  I  gave  you  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  Mr. 
Dodd." 

*'En  revanche,  you  gave  us  a  great  deal  of  pleasure," 
put  in  Mr.  Talboys. 


76  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Lucy  turned  her  head  and  smiled  graciously.  "But 
pianoforte  players  play  so  much  by  themselves;  they 
really  forget  the  awful  importance  of  time." 

*'I  profit  by  your  confession  that  they  do  sometimes 
play  by  themselves,"  said  Mr.  Talboys;  *'be  merciful, 
and  let  us  hear  you  by  yourself."  Eve  turned  as  red 
as  fire. 

David  backed  the  request  sincerely. 

Lucy  played  a  piece  composed  expressly  for  the 
piano  by  a  pianist  of  the  day.  David  sat  on  her  left 
hand  and  watched  intently  how  she  did  it. 

When  it  was  over  Talboys  did  a  bit  of  rapture;  Eve 
another. 

"That  is  playing." 

"I  would  not  have  believed  it  if  I  had  not  seen  it 
done,"  said  David.  "Eve,  you  should  have  seen  her 
beautiful  fingers  thread  in  and  out  among  the  keys,  it 
was  like  white  fire  dancing,  and  as  for  her  hand,  it  is 
not  troubled  with  joints  like  ours,  I  should  say." 

"The  music,  Mr.  Dodd,"  said  Lucy  severely. 

"Oh,  the  music!  well,  I  could  hardly  take  on  me  to 
say.  You  see  I  heard  it  by  the  eye,  and  that  was  all 
in  its  favour;  but  I  should  say  the  music  was  n't  worth 
a  button." 

"David!" 

"How  you  run  off  with  one's  words,  EvCo  I  mean 
played  by  anybody  but  her.  Why,  what  was  it  when 
you  come  to  think  ? — up  and  down  the  gamut  and  then 
down  and  up.  No  more  sense  in  it  than  ab  c,  a  scramble 
to  the  mainmast  head  for  nothing,  and  back  to  no 
good.  I'd  as  lieve  see  you  play  on  the  table.  Miss 
Fountain." 

"Poor  Moscheles!"  said  Lucy  drily. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  77 

"Revenge  is  in  your  power,"  said  Talboys,  "play 
no  more;  punish  us  all  for  this  one  heretic." 

Lucy  reflected  a  moment:  she  then  took  from  the 
canterbury  a  thick  old  book.  "This  was  my  mother's. 
Her  taste  was  pure  in  music  as  in  everything.  I  shall 
be  sorry  if  you  do  not  all  hke  this,"  added  she  softly. 

It  was  an  old  mass;  full  magnificent  chords  in  long 
succession,  strung  together  on  a  clear  but  delicate 
melody.  She  played  it  to  perfection;  her  lovely  hands 
seemed  to  grasp  the  chords.  No  fumbhng  in  the  bass; 
no  gelatinising  in  the  treble.  Her  touch,  firm  and 
masterly,  yet  feminine,  evoked  the  soul  of  her  instru- 
ment as  David  had  of  his,  and  she  thought  of  her  mother 
as  she  played.  These  were  those  golden  strains  from 
which  all  mortal  dross  seems  purged.  Hearing  them 
so  played  you  could  not  realise  that  he  who  writ  them 
had  ever  eaten,  drunk,  smoked,  snuffed,  and  hated  the 
composer  next  door.  She  who  played  them  felt  their 
majesty  and  purity.  She  lifted  her  beaming  eye  to 
Heaven  as  she  played,  and  the  colour  receded  from  her 
cheek;  and  when  her  enchantment  ended  she  was 
silent,  and  all  were  silent,  and  their  ears  ached  for  the 
departed  charm. 

Then  she  looked  round  a  mute  inquiry. 

Talboys  applauded  loudly. 

But  the  tear  stood  in  David's  eye,  and  he  said  nothing. 

"Well,  David,"  said  Eve  reproachfully,  "I'm  sure 
if  that  does  not  please  you." 

"Please  me,"  cried  David,  a  little  fretfully,  "more 
shame  for  me  if  it  does  not.  Please  is  not  the  word. 
It  is  angel  music,  I  call  it  —  ah!" 

"Well,  you  need  not  break  your  heart  for  that;  he 
is  going  to  cry  —  ha!  ha!" 


78  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"I'm  no  such  thing,"  cried  David  indignantly,  and 
blew  his  nose — ^promptly,  with  a  vague  air  of  explana- 
tion  and   defiance. 

But  why  the  male  of  my  species  blows  its  nose  to  hide 
its  sensibility,  a  deeper  than  I  must  decide. 

Mr.  Talboys  for  some  time  had  not  been  at  his  ease. 
He  had  been  playing  too,  and  an  instrument  he  hated — 
second  fiddle.  He  rose  and  joined  Mr.  Fountain,  who 
was  sitting  half  awake  on  a  distant  sofa. 

*'Aha,"  thought  Eve,  exulting,  "we  have  driven 
him  away." 

Judge  her  mortification  when  Lucy,  after  shutting 
the  piano,  joined  her  uncle  and  Mr.  Talboys.  Eve 
whispered  to  David,  "Gone  to  smooth  him  down;  the 
high  and  mighty  gentleman  wasn't  made  enough  of." 

"Every  one  in  their  turn,"  said  David  calmly; 
"that  is  manners.  Look,  it  is  the  old  gentleman  she 
is  being  kind  to.  She  could  not  be  unkind  to  any 
one  however." 

Eve  put  her  lips  to  David's  ear.  "She  will  be  un- 
f  kind  to  you,  if  you  are  ever  mad  enough  to  let  her  see 
what  I  see,"  said  she,  in  a  cutting  whisper. 

"What  do  you  see  ?  More  than  there  is  to  see,  I'll 
wager,"  said  David,  looking  down. 

"Ah,  that  is  the  way  with  young  men;  the  moment 
they  take  a  fancy  their  sister  is  nothing  to  them  —  their 
best  friend  loses  their  confidence." 

"Don't  ye  say  that.  Eve!  now  don't  say  that!" 

"No,  no,  David;  never  mind  me.  I  am  cross.  And 
if  you  saw  a  sore  heart  in  store  for  any  one  you  had  a 
regard  for,  would  n't  you  be  cross  ?  Young  men  are 
so  stupid:  they  can't  read  a  girl  no  more  than  Hebrew. 
If  she  is  civil  and  affable  to  them,  oh,  they  are  the  man 


LOVE  ME  LONG  79 

directly,  when,  instead  of  that,  if  it  was  so  she  would 
more  Ukely  be  shy,  and  half  afraid  to  come  near  them. 
David,  you  are  in  a  fool's  paradise.  In  company,  and 
even  in  flirtation,  all  sorts  meet  and  part  again;  but 
it  isn't  so  with  marriage.  There  'it  is  beasts  of  a  kind 
that  in  one  are  joined,  and  birds  of  a  feather  that  come 
together.'  Like  to  like,  David.  She  is  a  fine  lady, 
and  she  will  marry  a  fine  gentleman  and  nothing  else, 
with  a  large  income.  If  she  knew  what  has  been  in 
your  head  this  month  past,  she  would  open  her  eyes 
and  ask  if  the  man  was  mad." 

"She  has  a  right  to  look  down  on  me,  I  know," 
murmured  David  humbly,  "but  (his  eye  glowing  with 
sudden  rapture)  she  does  n't." 

"Look  down  on  you!  you  are  better  company  than 
she  is,  or  any  one  she  can  get  in  this  out-of-the-way 
place:  it  is  her  interest  to  be  civil  to  you.  I  am  too 
hard  upon  her  —  she  is  a  lady,  a  perfect  lady,  and  that 
is  why  she  is  above  giving  herself  airs.  No,  David, 
she  is  not  the  one  to  treat  us  with  disrespect,  if  we  don't 
forget  ourselves.  But  if  ever  you  let  her  see  that  you 
are  in  love  with  her,  you  will  get  an  affront  that  will 
make  your  cheek  burn  and  my  heart  smart;  so  I  tell 
you." 

"Hush!     I  never  told  you  I  was  in  love  with  her." 

"Never  told  me  ?  Never  told  me  ?  Who  asked  you 
to  tell  me;  I  have  eyes  if  you  have  none." 

"Eve,"  said  David  imploringly,  "I  don't  hear  of  any 
lover  that  she  has.     Do  you.?" 

"No," said  Eve  carelessly.  "But  who  knows.?  she 
passes  half  the  year  a  hundred  miles  from  this;  and 
there  are  young  men  everywhere.  If  she  was  a  milk- 
maid they'd  turn  to  look  at  her  with  such  a  face  and 


80  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

figure  as  that,  much  more  a  young  lady  with  every 
grace  and  every  charm;  she  has  more  than  one  after 
her  that  we  never  see,  take  my  word." 

Eve  had  no  sooner  said  this  than  she  regretted  it; 
for  David's  face  quivered,  and  he  sighed  Hke  one  trying 
to  recover  his  breath  after  a  terrible  blow. 

What  made  this  and  the  succeeding  conversation  the 
more  trying  and  peculiar  was,  that  the  presence  of  other 
persons  in  the  room,  though  at  a  considerable  distance, 
compelled  both  brother  and  sister,  though  anything  but 
calm,  to  speak  sotto  voce.  But  in  the  history  of  mankind 
more  strange  and  incongruous  matter  has  been  dealt 
with  in  an  undertone,  and  with  artificial  and  forced 
calmness. 

*'My  poor  David,"  said  Eve  sorrowfully,  **you  who 
used  to  be  so  proud,  so  high-spirited.  Be  a  man! 
don't  throw  away  such  a  treasure  as  your  affection. 
For  my  sake,  dear  David,  your  sister's  sake,  who  does 
love  you  so  very,  very  dearly!" 

"And  I  love  you.  Eve.  Thank  you.  It  was  hard 
lines.  Ah!  But  it  is  wholesome,  no  doubt,  like  most 
bitters.  Yes.  Thank  you.  Eve.  I  do  admire  her 
v-very  much,"  and  his  voice  faltered  a  little.  **But 
I  am  a  man  for  all  that,  and  I'll  stand  to  my  own  words. 
I  '11  never  be  any  woman's  slave." 

"That  is  right,  David." 

"I  will  not  give  hot  for  cold,  nor  my  heart  for  a 
smile  or  two.  I  can't  help  admiring  her,  and  I  do  hope 
she  will  be  —  happy  —  ah  —  whoever  she  fancies.  But 
if  I  am  never  to  command  her,  I  won't  carry  a  willow 
at  my  mast-head,  and  drift  away  from  reason  and  man- 
hood, and  my  duty  to  you  and  mother  and  myself." 

*'Ah,  David,  if  you  could  see  how  noble  you  look 


LOVE  ME  LONG  81 

now  —  is  it  a  promise,  David?  For  I  know  you  will 
keep  your  word  if  once  you  pass  it." 

*' There  is  my  hand  on  it,  Eve." 

The  brother  and  sister  grasped  hands,  and  when 
David  was  about  to  withdraw  his.  Eve's  soft  but  vigor- 
ous little  hand  closed  tighter  and  kept  it  firmer,  and  so 
they  sat  in  silence. 

"Eve." 

"My  dear!" 

"Now  don't  you  be  cross." 

"No,  dear.     Eve  is  sad,  not  cross;  what  is  it?'* 

"Well,  Eve  — dear  Eve." 

"Don't  be  afraid  to  speak  your  mind  to  me  —  why 
should  you?" 

"Well,  then,  Eve,  now  if  she  had  not  some  little 
kindness  for  me,  would  she  be  so  pleased  with  these 
thundering  yarns  I  keep  spinning  her,  as  old  as  Adam, 
and  as  stale  as  bilge-water  ?  You  that  are  so  keen,  how 
comes  it  you  don't  notice  her  eyes  at  these  times?  I 
feel  them  shine  on  me  like  a  couple  of  suns.  They 
would  make  a  statue  pay  the  yarn  out.  Who  ever 
fancied  my  chat  as  she  does  ?" 

"David,"  said  Eve  quietly, "  I  have  thought  of  all  this, 
but  I  am  convinced  now  there  is  nothing  in  it.  You 
see,  David,  mother  and  I  are  used  to  your  yarns,  and 
so  we  take  them  as  a  matter  of  course ;  but  the  real  fact 
is  they  are  very  interesting,  and  very  enticing,  and  you 
tell  them  like  a  book.  You  came  all  fresh  to  this  lady, 
and  she  is  very  quick;  so  she  had  the  wit  to  see  the  merit 
of  your  descriptions  directly.  I  can  see  it  myself  now. 
All  young  women  like  to  be  amused,  David,  and,  above 
all,  excited,  and  your  stories  are  very  exciting — that  is 


82  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  charm;  that  is  what  makes  her  eyes  fire;  but  if 
that  puppy  there,  or  that  bookshelf  yonder,  could  tell 
her  your  stories,  she  would  look  at  either  the  puppy  or 
the  bookstand  with  just  the  same  eyes  she  looks  on  you 
with,  my  poor  David." 

"Don't  say  so.  Eve!  Let  me  think  there  is  some  little 
feeling  for  me  inside  those  sweet  eyes  that  look  so  kind 
on  me." 

"And  on  me,  and  on  everybody.  It  is  her  manner.  I 
tell  you  she  is  so  to  all  the  world.  She  isn't  the  first  I've 
met.  Trust  me  to  read  a  woman,  David:  what  can 
you  know.?" 

"I  know  nothing;  but  they  tell  me  you  can  fathom 
one  another  better  than  any  man  ever  could,"  said  David 
sorrowfully. 

"David,  just  now  you  were  teUing  as  interesting  a 
story  as  ever  was.  You  had  just  got  to  the  thrilling 
part." 

**Oh,  had  I,  what  was  I  saying.?" 

"I  can't  tell  you  to  the  very  word — I  am  not  your 
sweetheart  any  more  than  she  is;  but  one  of  the  sailors 
was  in  danger  of  his  life,  and  so  on;  you  never  told  me 
the  story  before.  I  was  not  worth  it.  Well,  just  then 
does  not  that  affected  puppy  choose  his  time  to  come 
meandering  in .?" 

"Puppy  ?  I  call  him  a  fine  gentleman." 

"Well,  there  isn't  so  much  odds.  In  he  comes !  your 
story  is  broken  off  directly.  Does  she  care?  No,  she 
has  got  one  of  her  own  set;  he  is  not  a  very  bright  one; 
he  is  next  door  to  a  fool.  No  matter.  Before  he  came, 
to  judge  by  her  crocodile  eyes  she  was  hot  after  your 
story;  the  moment  he  did  come,  she  didn't  care  a  pin 
for  you  nor  your  story.     I  gave  her  more  than  one 


LOVE  ME  LONG  83 

opening  to  bring  it  on  again;  not  she.  I  tell  you,  you 
are  nothing  but  a  pass  time,*  you  suit  her  turn  so  long 
as  none  of  her  own  set  are  to  be  had.  If  she  would  leave 
you  for  such  a  jackanapes  as  that,  what  would  she  do 
for  a  real  gentleman,  such  a  man  as  she  is  a  woman, 
for  instance,  and  as  if  there  weren't  plenty  such  in  her 
own  set — oh,   you  goose!" 

David  interrupted  her.  "I  have  been  a  vain  fool,  and 
it  is  lucky  no  one  has  seen  it  but  you,"  and  he  hid  his 
face  in  his  hands  a  moment ;  then,  suddenly  remember- 
ing where  he  was,  and  that  this  was  an  attitude  to  attract 
attention,  he  tried  to  laugh — a  piteous  effort;  then  he 
ground  his  teeth  and  said, ''  Let  us  go  home.  All  I  want 
now  is  to  get  out  of  the  house.  It  would  have  been 
better  for  me  if  I  had  never  set  foot  in  it." 

**Hush!  be  calm,  David,  for  Heaven's  sake.  I  am 
only  waiting  to  catch  her  eye,  and  then  we'll  bid  them 
good  evening." 

"Very  well,  I'll  wait;"  and  David  fixed  his  eyes 
sadly  and  doggedly  on  the  ground.  *'I  won't  look  at 
her  if  I  can  help,"  said  he  resolutely,  but  very  sadly,  and 
turned  his  head  awav. 

**Now,  David,"  whispered  Eve. 

David  rose  mechanically  and  moved  with  his  sister 
towards  the  other  group.  Miss  Fountain  turned  at  their 
approach.  Somewhat  to  David's  surprise,  Eve  re- 
treated as  quietly  as  she  had  advanced. 

"We  are  to  stay." 

"What  for.?" 

"She  made  me  a  signal." 

"Not  that  I  saw,"  said  David  incredulously. 

"What,  did  n't  you  see  her  give  me  a  look.?" 

*  I  write  this  word  as  the  lady  thought  proper  to  pronounce  it. 


84  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Yes,  I  did.     But  what  has  that  to  do  with  it ?" 

"That  look  was  as  much  as  to  say,  'Please  stay  a  little 
longer,  I  have  something  to  say  to  you.'  " 

"Good  heavens!" 

"I  think  it  is  about  a  bonnet,  David.  I  asked  her  to 
put  me  in  the  way  of  getting  one  made  like  hers.  She 
does  wear  heavenly  bonnets." 

"Ay.  I  did  well  to  listen  to  you,  Eve;  you  see  I 
can't  even  read  her  face,  much  less  her  heart.  I  saw 
her  look  up  but  that  was  all.  How  is  a  poor  fellow  to 
make  out  such  craft  as  these  that  can  signal  one  another 
a  whole  page  with  a  flash  of  the  eye.^  Ah!" 

"There,  David,  he  is  going.     Was  I  right  .^" 

Mr.  Talboys  was  in  fact  taking  leave  of  Miss  Foun- 
tain. The  old  gentleman  convoyed  his  friend.  As  the 
door  closed  on  them  Miss  Fountain's  face  seemed  to 
catch  fire.  Her  sweet  complacency  gave  way  to  a  half- 
joyous,  half-irritated  small  energy;  she  came  gliding 
swiftly,  though  not  hurriedly,  up  to  Eve:  "Thank  you 
for  seeing."  Then  she  settled  softly  and  gradually  on 
an  ottoman,  saying,  "Now,  Mr.  Dodd." 

David  looked  puzzled.  "What  is  it  .^"  and  he  turned 
to  his  interpreter  Eve. 

But  it  was  Lucy  who  replied,  "  'His  messmate  was 
crying  like  a  child.  At  sunrise  poor  Tom  must  die. 
Then  up  rose  one  fellow'  (we  have  not  an  idea  who  one 
fellow  means  in  these  narratives ;  have  we.  Miss  Dodd  ?) 
'and  cried,  "I  have  it,  messmates.  Tom  is  n't  dead 
yet."  '  Now,  Mr.  Dodd,  between  that  sentence  and  the 
one  that  is  to  follow,  all  that  has  happened  in  this  room 
was  a  hideous  dream;  on  that  understanding  we  have 
put  up  with  it  —  it  is  now  happily  dispersed,  and  we  — 
go  ahead  again." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  85 

"I  see,  Eve,  she  thinks  she  would  Hke  some  more  of 
that  China  yarn." 

"Her  sentiments  are  not  so  tame.  She  longs 
for  it,  thirsts  for  it,  and  must  and  will  have  it  — 
if  you  will  be  so  very  obliging,  Mr.  Dodd."  The 
contrast  between  all  this  singular  vivacity  of  Miss 
Fountain,  and  the  sudden  return  to  her  native 
character  and  manner  in  the  last  sentence,  struck 
the  sister  as  very  droll;  seemed  to  the  brother  so 
winning,  that,  scarcely  master  of  himself,  he  burst 
out,  *'You  shan't  ask  me  twice  for  that,  or  anything 
I  can  give  you;"  and  it  was  with  burning  cheeks 
and  happy  eyes  he  resumed  his  tale  of  bold  adven- 
ture and  skill  on  one  side,  of  numbers,  danger,  and 
difficulty  on  the  other.  He  told  it  now  like  one 
inspired,  and  both  the  young  ladies  hung  panting  and 
glowing  on  his  words. 

David  and  Eve  went  home  together. 

David  was  in  a  triumphant  state,  but  waited  for  Eve 
to  congratulate  him.     Eve  was  silent. 

At  last  David  could  refrain  no  longer.  "Why,  you 
say  nothing." 

"No.  Common-sense  is  too  good  to  be  wasted  — 
don't  go  so  fast." 

"No.  There;  I  heave-to  for  convoy  to  close  up  — 
would  it  be  wasted  on  me?  —  ha,  ha!" 

"To-night.     There  you  go  pelting  on  again." 

"Eve,  I  can't  help  it.  I  feel  all  canvas,  with  a  cargo 
of  angels'  feathers,  and  sunshine  for  ballast." 

"Moonshine." 

"Sun,  moon,  and  stars,  and  all  that  is  bright  by  night 
or  day.  I'll  tell  you  what  to  do;  you  keep  your  head 
free  and  come  on  under  easy  sail.     I'll  stand  across 


86  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

your  bows  with  every  rag  set  and  drawing;  so  then  I 
shall  be  always  within  hail." 

This  sober-minded  manoeuvre  was  actually  carried 
out.  The  little  corvette  sailed  steadily  down  the  middle 
of  the  lane ;  the  great  merchantman  went  pitching  and 
rolling  across  her  bows ;  thus  they  kept  together  though 
their  rates  of  sailing  were  so  different. 

Merry  Eve  never  laughed  once;  but  she  smiled,  and 
then  sighed. 

David  did  not  heed  her.  All  of  a  moment  his 
heart  vented  itself  in  a  sea  ditty  so  loud  and  clear, 
and  mellow,  that  windows  opened,  and  out  came  night- 
capped  heads  to  hear  him  carol  the  lusty  stave,  making 
night  jolly. 

Meantime  the  weather  being  balmy,  Mr.  Fountain 
had  walked  slowly  with  Mr.  Talboys  in  another  direc- 
tion. Mr.  Talboys  inquired,  *'Who  were  these 
people  .^"  — "  Oh,  only  two  humble  neighbours,"  was  the 
reply. 

"I  never  met  them  anywhere.  They  are  received  in 
the  neighbourhood.^" 

**Not  in  society,  of  course." 

"  I  don't  understand  you.  Have  not  I  just  met  them 
here.?" 

"That  is  not  the  way  to  put  it,"  said  the  old  gentle- 
man a  little  confused.  "You  did  not  meet  them;  you 
did  me  and  my  niece  the  honour  to  dine  with  us,  and 
the  Dodds  dropped  in  to  tea  —  quite  another  matter." 

"Oh,  is  it.?" 

"Is  it  not  ?  I  see;  you  have  been  so  long  out  of  Eng- 
land you  have  forgotten  these  little  distinctions  — 
society  would  go  to  the  deuce  without  them.  We  ask 
our  friends,  and  persons  of  our  own  class,  to  dinner,  but 


LOVE  ME  LONG  87 

we  ask  who  we  like  to  tea  in  this  county.  Don't  you 
like  her  ?  she  is  the  prettiest  girl  in  the  village." 

*' Pretty  and  pert." 

*'  Ha,  ha !  that  is  true ;  she  is  saucy  enough  and  amus- 
ing in  proportion." 

"It  is  the  man  I  alluded  to." 

*'What,  David  .J^  ay,  a  very  worthy  lad.  He  is  a 
downright  modest,  well-informed  young  man." 

**I  don't  doubt  his  general  merits,  but  let  me  ask  you 
a  serious  question.  His  evident  admiration  of  Miss 
Fountain.?" 

**His  ad-mi-ration  of  Miss  Fountain?" 

''Is  it  agreeable  to  you.?" 

"It  is  a  matter  of  consummate  indifference  to  me.'* 

"  But  not,  I  think,  to  her;  she  showed  a  submission  to 
the  cub's  impertinence,  and  a  desire  to  please  instead  of 
putting  him  down  that  made  me  suspect.  Do  you 
often  ask  Mr.  Dodd  —  what  a  name !  —  to  tea .?  " 

**  My  dear  friend,  I  see  that  with  all  your  accomplish- 
ments you  have  something  to  learn;  you  want  insight 
into  female  character.  Now  I,  who  must  go  to  school 
to  you  on  most  points,  can  be  of  use  to  you  here;" 
then  seeing  that  Talboys  was  mortified  at  being  told 
thus  gently  there  was  a  department  of  learning  he  had 
not  fathomed,  he  added,  "At  all  events,  I  can  interpret 
my  own  niece  to  you.  I  have  known  her  much  longer 
than  you  have." 

Mr.  Talboys  requested  the  interpreter  to  explain 
the  pleasure  his  niece  took  in  Mr.  Dodd's  fiddle. 

"Part  politeness,  part  sham;  why,  she  wanted  not  to 
ask  them  this  evening,  the  fiddle  especially.  I  '11  give 
you  the  clue  to  Lucy:  she  is  a  female  Chesterfield,  and 
the  droll  thing  is  she  is  pohte  ^t  heart  as  well.     Takes 


88  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

it  from  her  mother  —  she  was  something  between  an 
angel  and  a  duchess." 

'*PoHteness  does  not  account  for  the  sort  of  partiality 
she  showed  for  these  Dodds  while  I  was  in  the  room." 

"  Pure  imagination,  my  dear  friend.  I  was  there,  and 
had  so  monstrous  a  phenomenon  occurred  I  must  have 
seen  it.  If  you  think  she  could  really  prefer  their 
society  to  yours,  you  are  as  unjust  to  her  as  to  yourself. 
She  may  have  concealed  her  real  preference  out  of 
finesse^  or  perhaps  she  has  observed  that  our  inferiors 
are  touchy,  and  ready  to  fancy  we  slight  them  for  those 
of  our  own  rank." 

Talboys  shrugged  his  shoulders,  he  was  but  half  con- 
vinced. "Her  enthusiasm  when  the  cub  scraped  the 
fiddle  went  beyond  mere  politeness." 

*' Beyond  other  people's,  you  mean.  Nothing  on 
earth  ever  went  beyond  hers  —  ha!  ha!  ha!  To-morrow 
night,  if  you  like,  we  will  have  my  gardener  Jack 
Absolom  in  to  tea." 

"No.  I  thank  you.  I  have  no  wish  to  go  beyond 
Mr.  and  Miss  Dodd." 

"  Oh,  only  for  an  experiment.  The  first  minute  Jack 
will  be  wretched,  and  want  to  sink  through  the  floor; 
but  in  five  minutes  you  will  find  Lucy  will  have  made 
Jack  Absolom  at  home  in  my  drawing-room.  He  will  be 
laying  down  the  law  about  jonquilles,  and  she  all  sweet- 
ness,  curiosity,  and  enthusiasm  outside  —  ennui  in." 

"Can  her  eyes  glisten  out  of  politeness.?"  inquired 
Talboys,  with  a  subdued  sneer. 

"Why  not?" 

"They  could  shed  tears,  perhaps,  for  the  same 
motive?"  said  Talboys  with  crushing  irony. 

"  Well  ?     Hum  ?     I'd  back  them  at  four  to  seven." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  89 

Mr.  Talboys  was  silent,  and  his  manner  showed  that 
he  was  a  Httle  mortified  at  a  subject  turning  to  joke 
which  he  had  commenced  seriously.  He  must  stop 
this  annoyance.  He  said  severely,  ''It  is  time  to  come 
to  an  understanding  with  you." 

At  these  words,  and  above  all  at  their  solemn  tone, 
the  senior  pricked  his  ears,  and  prepared  his  social 
diplomacy. 

*'I  have  visited  very  frequently  at  your  house,  Mr. 
Fountain." 

"Never  without  being  welcome,  my  dear  sir." 

**  You  have,  I  think,  divined  one  reason  of  my  very 
frequent  visits  here." 

"I  have  not  been  vain  enough  to  attribute  them 
entirely  to  my  own  attractions." 

"You  approve  the  homage  I  render  to  that  other 
attraction.^" 

"Unfeignedly." 

"Am  I  so  fortunate  as  to  have  her  suffrage  too .?" 

"I  have  no  better  means  of  knowing  than  you  have." 

"Indeed.  I  was  in  hopes  you  might  have  sounded 
her  inclinations." 

"I  have  scrupulously  avoided  it,"  replied  the  veteran. 
"I  had  no  right  to  compromise  you  upon  mere  con- 
jecture however  reasonable.  I  awaited  your  authority 
to  take  any  move  in  so  delicate  a  matter.  Can  you 
blame  me  ?  On  one  side  my  friend's  dignity,  on  the 
other  a  young  lady's  peace  of  mind,  and  that  young 
lady  my  brother's  daughter." 

"You  were  right,  my  dear  sir.  I  see  and  appreciate 
your  reserve,  your  delicacy,  though  I  am  about  to  remove 
its  cause.  I  declare  myself  to  you  your  niece's  admirer; 
have  I  your  permission  to  address  her?" 


90  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"  You  have,and  my  warmest  wishes  for  your  success." 

"Thank  you.  I  think  I  may  hope  to  succeed, 
provided  I  have  a  fair  chance  afforded  me." 

'*I  will  take  care  you  shall  have  that." 

"I  should  prefer  not  to  have  others  buzzing  about 
the  lady,  whose  affection  I  am  just  beginning  to  gain." 

*' You  pay  this  poor  sailor  an  amazing  compliment," 
said  Mr.  Fountain,  a  little  testily;  "if  he  admires  Lucy, 
it  can  only  be  as  a  puppy  is  struck  with  the  moon  above. 
The  moon  does  not  respond  to  all  this  wonder  by 
descending  into  the  whelp's  jaws;  no  more  will  my 
niece.  But  that  is  neither  here  nor  there;  you  are  now 
her  declared  suitor  and  have  a  right  to  stipulate,  in 
short,  you  have  only  to  say  the  word,  and  'exeunt 
Dodds,'  as  the  play-book  says." 

*'Dodds.^  I  have  no  objection  to  the  lady;  would 
it  not  be  possible  to  invite  her  to  tea  alone  ?" 

"Quite  possible,  but  useless;  she  would  not  stir  out 
without   her  brother." 

"She  seems  a  little  person  likely  to  give  herself  airs; 
well  then,  in  that  case,  though,  as  you  say,  I  am  no 
doubt  raising  Mr.  Dodd  to  a  false  importance,  still " 

"Say  no  more;  we  should  indulge  the  whims  of  our 
friends,  not  attack  them  with  reasons.  You  will  see 
the  Dodds  no  more  in  my  house." 

"Oh,  as  to  that,  just  as  you  please.  Perhaps  they 
would  be  as  well  out  of  it,"  said  Talboys,  with  a  sudden 
affectation  of  carelessness.  "I  must  not  take  you  too 
far,  good  night." 

"Go-o-d  night!" 

Poor  David.  He  was  to  learn  how  little  real  hold 
upon  society  has  the  man  who  can  only  instruct  and 
delight  it. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  91 

Mr.  Fountain  bustled  home,  rubbing  his  hands  with 
delight.  "Aha!"  thought  he,  "jealous,  actually  jealous! 
absurdly  jealous!  That  is  a  good  sign.  Who  would 
have  thought  so  proud  a  man  could  be  jealous  of  a 
sailor.^  I  have  found  out  your  vulnerable  point,  my 
friend.  I  '11  tell  Lucy;  how  she  will  laugh.  David 
Dodd!  Now  we  know  how  to  manage  him,  liUcy  and 
I.  If  he  freezes  back  again,  we  have  but  to  send  for 
David  Dodd  and  his  fiddle."  He  bustled  home  and 
up  into  the  drawing-room  to  tell  Lucy  Mr.  Talboys 
had  at  last  declared  himself.  His  heart  felt  warm.  He 
would  settle  six  thousand  pounds  on  Mrs.  Talboys 
during  his  life,  and  his  whole  fortune  after  his  death. 

He  found  the  drawing-room  empty.  He  rang  the 
bell.  "Where  is  Miss  Fountain  .^  "  John  did  n't  know, 
but  supposed  she  had  gone  to  her  room. 

"You  don't  know.'^  You  never  know  anything. 
Send  her  maid  to  me." 

The  maid  came  and  curtsied  demurely  at  the  door. 

"Tell  your  mistress  I  want  to  speak  to  her  directly; 
before  she  undresses." 

The  maid  went  out,  and  soon  returned  to  say  that 
her  mistress  had  retired  to  rest;  but  that  if  he  pleased 
she  would  rise  and  just  make  a  demi-to-let,  and  come 
to  him.  This  smooth  and  fair-sounding  proposal  was 
not,  I  grieve  to  say,  so  graciously  received  as  offered. 
"Much  obliged,"  snapped  old  Fountain.  "Her  demi- 
toilette  will  keep  me  another  hour  out  of  my  bed,  and 
I  get  no  sleep  after  dinner  now  amongst  you.  Tell  her 
to-morrow  at  breakfast-time  will  do." 


CHAPTER  IV 

David  Dodd  was  so  radiant  and  happy  for  a  day  or 
two,  that  Eve  had  not  the  heart  to  throw  cold  water 
on  him  again. 

Three  days  elapsed,  and  no  invitation  to  Font  Abbey : 
on  this  his  happiness  cooled  of  itself.  But  when  day 
after  day  rolled  by,  and  no  Font  Abbey,  he  was  dashed, 
uneasy,  and,  above  all,  perplexed.  What  could  be  the 
reason.?  Had  he  with  his  rough  ways  offended  her? 
had  she  been  too  dignified  to  resent  it  at  the  time  ?  Was 
he  never  to  go  to  Font  Abbey  again  ? 

Eve's  first  feeling  was  unmixed  satisfaction.  We 
have  seen  already  that  she  expected  no  good  from  this 
rash  attachment.  For  a  single  moment  her  influence 
and  reasons  had  seemed  to  wean  David  from  it,  but  his 
violent  agitation  and  joy  at  two  words  of  kindly  curiosity 
from  Miss  Fountain,  and  the  instant  unreasonable 
revival  of  love  and  hope,  showed  the  strange  power  she 
had  acquired  over  him.     It  made  Eve  tremble. 

But  now  the  Fountains  were  aiding  her  to  cure  this 
folly.  She  had  read  them  right,  had  described  them 
to  David  aright.  A  wind  of  caprice  had  carried  him 
and  her  into  Font  Abbey;  another  such  wind  was  carrying 
them  out.  No  event  had  happened.  Mr.  and  Miss 
Fountain  had  been  seen  more  than  once  in  the  village 
of  late.  "They  have  dropped  us,  and  thank  Heaven," 
said  Eve,  in  her  idiomatic  way. 

She  pitied  David  deeply,  and  was  kinder  and  kinder 
to  him  now,  to  show  him  she  felt  for  him ;  but  she  never 

92 


LOVE  ME  LONG  93 

mentioned  the  Font  Abbey  people  to  him,  either  to 
praise  or  blame  them,  though  it  was  all  she  could  do  to 
suppress  her  satisfaction  at  the  turn  their  insolent 
caprice  had  taken. 

That  satisfaction  was  soon  clouded.  This  time, 
instead  of  rousing  himself  and  his  pride,  David  sank 
into  a  moody  despondency,  varied  by  occasional  fretful- 
ness;  his  appetite  went  and  his  bright  colour,  and  his 
elastic  step  —  this  silent  sadness  was  so  new  in  him; 
such  a  contrast  to  his  natural  temperament,  large, 
genial,  and  ever  cheerful,  that  Eve  could  not  bear  it.  "I 
must  shake  him  out  of  this  at  all  hazards,"  thought  she; 
yet  she  put  off  the  experiment,  and  put  it  off,  partly 
in  hopes  that  David  would  speak  first,  partly  because 
she  saw  the  wound  she  must  probe  was  deep,  and  she 
winced  beforehand  for  her  patient. 

Meantime  prolonged  doubt  and  suspense  now  goaded 
with  their  intolerable  stings  the  active  spirit  that  chill 
misgivings  had  at  first  benumbed.  Spurred  into  action 
by  these  torments,  David  had  already  watched  several 
days  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Font  Abbey,  deter- 
mined to  speak  to  Miss  Fountain  and  find  out  whether 
he  had  given  her  offence,  for  this  was  still  his  uppermost 
idea.  Having  failed  in  this  attempt  at  an  interview 
with  her,  he  was  now  meditating  a  more  resolute  course, 
and  he  paced  the  little  gravel-walk  at  home  debating 
in  himself  the  pros  and  cons.  Raising  his  head  sud- 
denly, he  saw  his  sister  walking  slowly  at  the  other  end 
of  the  path.  She  was  coming  toward  him,  but  her 
eyes  were  bent  thoughtfully  on  the  ground.  David 
slipped  behind  some  bushes  not  to  have  his  unhappiness 
and  his  meditations  interrupted.  The  lover  and  the 
lunatic  have  points  in  common. 


94  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

He  had  been  there  some  time  when  a  grave  Httle 
voice  spoke  quietly  to  him  from  the  lawn.  "  David,  I 
want  to  speak  to  you."     David  came  out. 

"Here  am  I." 

"  Oh,  I  knew  where  you  were.  Don't  do  that  again, 
sir,  please,  or  you'll  catch  it." 

"  Oh !  I  did  n't  think  you  saw  me,"  said  David,  some- 
what confusedly. 

"What  has  that  to  do  with  it,  stupid?  David," 
continued  she,  assuming  a  benevolent,  cheerful,  and 
somewhat  magnificent  nonchalance,  "I  sometimes 
wonder  you  don't  come  to  me  with  your  troubles.  I 
might  advise  you  as  well  as  here  and  there  one.  But 
perhaps  you  think  now,  because  I  am  naturally  gay,  I  am 
not  sensible.  You  mustn't  go  by  that  altogether.  Manner 
is  very  deceiving.  The  most  foolishly  conducted  men 
and  women  ever  I  met  were  as  grave  as  judges,  and  as 
demure  as  cats  after  cream.  Bless  you,  there  is  folly 
in  every  heart.  Your  slow  ones  bottle  it  up  for  use 
against  the  day  wisdom  shall  be  most  needed.  My  sort 
let  it  fizz  out  at  their  mouths  in  their  daily  talk,  and  keep 
their  good  sense  for  great  occasions  like  the  present." 

"Have  we  drifted  among  the  proverbs  of  Solomon  ?" 
inquired  David  drily.  "No  need  to  make  so  many 
tacks.  Eve.  Haven't  I  seen  your  sense  and  profited  by 
it — ^I,  and  one  or  two  more  ?  Who  but  you  has  steered 
the  house  this  ten  years,  and  commanded  the  lubberly 
crew.?"* 

"And  then,  again,  David,  where  the  heart  is  con- 
cerned, young  women  are  naturally  in  advance  of 
young  men." 

*  The  reader  must  not  be  misled  by  the  familiar  phraseology  of  these  two  speakers,  to 
suppose  that  anything  the  least  droll  or  humorous  was  intended  by  either  of  them  at  any 
part  of  this  singular  dialogue.     Their  hearts  were  sad  and  their  faces  grave. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  95 

"God  knows.     He  made  them  both.     I  don't." 

"Why,  all  the  world  knows  it.  And  then,  besides, 
I  am  five  years  older  than  you." 

"So  mother  says;  but  I  don't  know  how  to  believe 
it.     No  one  would  say  so  to  look  at  you." 

"I'll  tell  you,  David.  Folk  that  have  small  features 
look  a  deal  younger  than  their  years;  and  you  know 
poor  father  used  to  say  my  face  was  the  pattern  of  a  flat- 
iron — so  nobody  gives  me  my  age;  but  I  am  five  good 
years  older  than  you ;  only  you  need  not  go  and  tell  the 
town-crier." 

"Well,  Eve.?" 

"Well  then,  put  all  these  together,  and  now,  why  not 
come  to  me  for  friendly  advice,  and  the  voice  of  reason .?" 

"Reason!    reason!    there   are   other    lights   beside 


reason." 


"Jack-o'-lantern,    eh?  and   will-o'-the-wisp." 

"Eve,  nobody  can  advise  me  that  can't  feel  for  me. 
Nobody  can  feel  for  me  that  doesn't  know  my  pain; 
and  you  don't  know  that,  because  you  were  never  in 
love." 

"Oh,  then  if  I  had  ever  been  in  love,  you  would 
listen." 

"As  I  would  to  an  angel  from  heaven." 

"And  be  advised  by  me.?" 

"Why  not.?  for  then  you'd  be  competent  to  advise; 
but  now  you  haven't  an  idea  what  you  are  talking 
about." 

"  What  a  pity!  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  as  well  if 
you  were  not  to  speak  to  me  so  sulky  ?" 

"I  ask  your  pardon.  Eve.  I  did  not  mean  to  offend 
you." 

"  Davy  dear,  for  God's  sake,  what  is  this  chill  that  has 


96  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

come  between  you  and  me?  You  are  a  man.  Speak 
out  like  a  man." 

David  turned  his  great,  calm,  sorrowful  eye  full  upon 
her. 

"Well  then,  Eve,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  I  am 
disappointed  in  you." 

'*  Oh,  David." 

"A  little.  You  are  not  the  girl  I  took  you  for.  You 
know  which  way  my  fancy  lies,  yet  you  keep  steering 
me  in  the  teeth  of  it.  Then  you  see  how  down-hearted 
I  am  this  while:  but  not  a  word  of  comfort  or  hope 
comes  from  you;  and  me  almost  dried  up  for  want  of 
one." 

"Make  one  word  of  it,  David^ — I  am  not  a  sister  to 
you." 

"I  don't  say  that,  but  you  might  be  kinder;  you  are 
against  me  just  when  I  want  you  with  me  the  most." 

"Now  this  is  what  I  like," said  Eve  cheerfully;  "this 
is  plain  speaking.  So  now  it  is  my  turn,  my  lad.  Do 
you  remember  Balaam  and  his  ass  ?'' 

"Sure,"  said  David;  but  used  as  he  was  to  Eve's 
transitions  he  could  n't  help  staring  a  little  at  being 
carried  eastward-ho  so  suddenly. 

"Then  what  did  the  ass  say  when  she  broke  silence 
at  last.?" 

"Well,  you  know.  Eve,  I  take  shame  to  say  I  don't 
remember  her  very  words;  but  the  tune  of  them  I  do. 
Why,  she  sang  so  out,  'Avast  there,  it  is  my  first  fault; 
so  you  need  n't  be  hasty  with  your  thundering  rope's 
end.'  " 

"There!  You'd  make  a  nice  commentator.  You 
haven't  taken  it  up  one  bit;  you  are  as  much  in  the  dark 
as  our  parson.     He  preached  on  her  the  very  Sunday  you 


LOVE  ME  LONG  97 

came  home ;  and  it  was  all  I  could  do  to  help  whipping 
up  into  the  pulpit,  and  snatching  away  his  book  and 
letting  daylight  in  on  them." 

David  was  scandalised  at  the  very  idea  of  such  a 
breach  of  discipline.  "That  is  ridiculous,"  said  he; 
"one  can't  have  two  skippers  in  a  church  any  more  than 
in  a  ship,  brig,  or  barque.  But  you  can  let  daylight 
in  on  me." 

"I  mean.  To  begin,  the  ass  was  in  the  right  and 
Balaam  in  the  wrong;  so  what  becomes  of  your  *first 
fault' }  She  was  frugal  of  her  words,  but  every  syllable 
was  a  needle;  the  worst  is  some  skins  are  so  thick  our 
needles  won't  enter  'em.  Says  she,  'This  seven  years 
you  have  known  me ;  always  true  to  the  bridle,  and  true 
to  you.  Did  ever  I  disobey  you  before  ?  Then,  why  go 
and  fancy  I  do  it  without  some  great  cause,  that  you 
can't  see  ?'  Then  the  man's  eyes  were  opened,  and  he 
saw  it  was  destruction  his  old  friend  had  run  back 
from,  and  galled  his  foot  to  save  his  life;  so  of  course 
he  thanked  her,  and  blessed  her  then.  Not  he.  He  was 
too  much  of  a  man." 

"Ay,  ay,  I  see;  but  what  is  the  moral?  for  I  have 
no  heart  to  expound  riddles." 

"Oh,  I'll  tell  you  the  moral  sooner  than  you'll  like 
perhaps.  The  ass  is  a  type,  David.  In  Holy  Writ, 
you  know,  almost  everything  is  a  type:  when  a  thing 
means  one  thing  and  stands  for  another,  that's  a  type." 

"  Ducks  can  swim.  At  least  I've  heard  so.  Now,  if 
you  could  tell  me  what  she  is  a  type  of  .^" 

"What,  the  ass!  don't  you  know  ?  Why,  of  women 
to  be  sure.  Of  us  poor  creatures  of  burden,  underrated 
and  misunderstood  all  the  world  over.  And  Balaam, 
he  stands  for  men;  —  and  for  you  at  the  head  of  them,'* 


98  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

cried  she,  turning  round  with  flashing  eyes  on  David. 
*' You  have  known  me  and  my  true  affection  more  than 
seven  years,  or  seventeen.  I  carried  you  in  my  arms 
when  you  were  a  year  old,  and  I  was  six.  You  were  my 
Uttle  curly-headed  darling  then,  and  have  been  from 
that  day  to  this.  Did  ever  I  cross  you  or  be  cold  or 
unkind  to  you  till  the  other  day?" 

"No,  Eve,  no,  no,  no!  Come,  sit  beside  me!" 

*'Then  shouldn't  you  have  said  — 'Don't  slobber  me 
— I  won't  have  it — you  and  I  are  bad  friends' — ought  n't 
you  to  have  said,  *Eve  could  never  give  herself  the  pain 
of  crossing  me?'  (no,  there  isn't  a  man  in  the  world 
with  gumption  enough  to  say  that  —  that  is  a  woman's 
thought);  but,  at  least,  you  might  have  said,  'She  sees 
rocks  ahead  that  I  can't.'  (Balaam  couldn't  see  the 
drawn  sword  ahead,  but  there  it  was.)  It  was  for  you 
to  say,  'My  sister  Eve  would  not  change  from  gay  to 
grave  all  at  once,  and  from  indulging  me  in  everything 
to  thwarting  me  and  vexing  me,  unless  she  saw  some 
great  danger  threatening  my  peace  of  mind,  my  career 
in  life,  my  very  reason  perhaps.'  " 

"I  have  been  to  blame.  Eve;  but  speak  out,  and  let 
me  know  the  worst  — you  have  heard  something  against 
her  character?  Speak  plain  out,  for  Heaven's  sake!" 

"It  is  all  very  well  of  you  to  say  speak  plain  out ;  but 
there  are  things  girls  don't  like  to  speak  about  to  any 
man.  But  after  what  you  said  that  you  would  listen  to 
me  if  I  —  so  it  is  my  duty.  You  will  see  my  face  red 
enough  in  about  a  minute.  Two  years  ago  I  couldn't 
have  done  this  even  for  you.  It  is  hard  I  must  expose 
my  own  folly,  my  own  crime." 

"Why,  feve,  lass,  how  you  tremble.  Drop  it  now/ 
drop  it!" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  99 

"Hold  your  tongue!"  said  Eve  sharply,  but  in  con- 
siderable agitation.  ''  It  is  too  late  now,  after  something 
you  have  said  to  me.  If  I  didn't  speak  out  now,  I 
should  be  like  that  bad  man  you  told  us  of,  who  let  out 
the  beacon  light  when  the  wind  was  blowing  hard  on 
shore.  Listen,  David,  and  take  my  words  to  heart! 
The  road  you  are  on  now  —  I  have  been  upon;  only  I 
went  much  farther  on  it  than  you  shall  go."  She  resumed 
after  a  short  pause,  "You  remember  Henry  Dyke.^" 

"^Miat!  the  young  clergyman  who  used  to  be  always 
alongside  you  at  our  last  anchorage.?" 

"Yes.  He  was  just  such  a  man  as  Miss  Fountain  is 
a  woman.  He  was  but  a  dish  of  skim  milk  —  yet  he 
could  poison  my  life." 

Then  Eve  told  the  story  of  her  heart.  She  described 
her  lover  as  he  appeared  to  her  in  the  early  days  of 
courtship,  young,  handsome,  good,  noble  in  sentiment 
and  warm  and  tender  in  manner.  Halcyon  days,  not  a 
speck  to  be  seen  on  love's  horizon. 

Then  she  delineated  the  fine  gradations  by  which 
the  illusion  faded,  too  slowly  and  too  late  for  her  to 
withdraw  the  love  she  had  conceived  for  his  person  at 
that  time  when  person  and  mind  seemed  alike  superior. 
She  painted  with  the  delicate  touch  of  her  sex  the  por- 
trait of  a  man  and  a  scholar  born  to  please  all  the  world, 
and  incapable  of  condensing  his  affections  —  a  pious 
flirt,  no  longer  stimulated  to  genuine  ardour  by  doubts 
of  success;  but  too  kind-hearted  to  pain  her  beyond 
measure,  when  a  little  factitious  warmth  from  time  to 
time  would  give  her  hours  of  happiness,  keep  her  on 
the  whole  content,  and,  above  all,  retain  her  his.  Then 
she  shifted  the  mirror  to  herself,  the  fiery  and  faithful 
one;  and  showed  David  what  centuries  of  torture  a 


100  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

good  little  creature  like  this  Dyke,  with  its  charming 
exterior,  could  make  a  quick  and  ardent  and  devoled 
nature  suffer  in  a  year  or  two.  Came  out  in  her  narra- 
tive, link  by  link,  the  gentle  delicious  complacency  of 
the  first  period,  the  chill  airs  that  soon  ruffled  it,  the 
glowing  hopes,  the  misgivings  that  dashed  them;  then 
the  diminution  of  confidence,  more  perplexing  and 
exasperating  than  its  utter  loss;  the  alternations  of  joy 
and  doubt,  the  fever  and  the  ague  of  the  wounded  spirit ; 
then  the  gusts  of  hatred  followed  by  deeper  love;  later 
still,  the  periodical  irritation  at  hopes  long  deferred  and 
still  gleams  of  bliss  between  the  paroxysms ;  so  that  now, 
as  the  vulgar  say  in  their  tremendous  Saxon,  she  "spent 
her  time  between  heaven  and  hell;"  last  of  all,  the 
sickness  and  recklessness  of  the  worn-out  and  wearied 
heart,  over  which  melancholy  or  fury  impended. 

It  was  at  this  crisis,  when,  as  she  could  now  see  on  a 
calm  retrospect,  her  mind  was  distempered,  a  new  and 
terrible  passion  stepped  upon  the  scene  —  jealousy.  A 
friend  came  and  whispered  her,  "Mr.  Dyke  was  court- 
ing another  woman  at  the  same  time,  and  that  other 
woman  was  rich." 

"David,  at  that  word  a  flash  of  lightning  seemed  to 
go  through  me  and  show  me  the  man  as  he  really  was." 

"The  mean  scoundrel  to  sell  himself  for  money!!" 

"No,  David,  he  would  not  have  sold  himself  with  his 
eyes  open,  any  more  than  perhaps  your  Miss  Fountain 
would;  but  what  little  heart  he  had  he  could  give  to 
any  girl  that  was  not  a  fright.  He  was  a  self -deceiver, 
and  a  general  lover;  and  such  characters  and  their 
affections  sink  by  nature  to  where  their  interest  lies. 
Iron  is  not  conscious,  yet  it  creeps  toward  the  loadstone. 
Well,  while  she  was  with  me,  I  held  up  and  managed 


LOVE  ME  LONG  ,  :    ;  ,^  ,  .^>.  JOl 

to  question  her  as  coldly  as  1  speak  to  you  now,  but  as 
soon  as  she  left  me  I  went  off  in  violent  hysterics." 

''Poor   Eve!" 

"She  had  not  been  gone  an  hour  when  doesn't  the 
devil  put  it  into  his  head  to  send  me  a  long  affectionate 
letter,  and  in  the  postscript  he  invited  himself  to  supper 
the  same  afternoon.  Then  I  got  up  and  dried  my  eyes, 
and  I  seemed  to  turn  into  stone  with  resolution.  *Come!' 
I  said,  'but  don't  think  you  shall  ever  go  back  to  her. 
Your  troubles  and  mine  shall  end  to-night.'  " 

"Why,  Eve,  you  turn  pale  with  thinking  of  it.  I 
fear  you  have  had  worse  thoughts  pass  through  your 
mind  than  any  man  is  worth." 

"David,  your  blood  was  in  my  veins,  and  mine  is  in 
yours." 

"If  I  did  n't  think  so!  The  Lord  deliver  us  from 
temptation!  We  don't  know  ourselves  nor  those  we 
love." 

"He  had  driven  me  mad." 

"Mad,  indeed;  what,  had  you  the  heart  to  see  the 
man  bleed  to  death,  the  man  you  have  loved,  you,  my 
little  gentle  Eve.?" 

"Oh,  no,  no,  no  blood!"  said  Eve,  with  a  shudder. 
"Laudanum!" 

"Good  God!" 

"Oh!  I  see  your  thought;  no,  I  was  not  like  the 
men  in  the  newspapers  that  kill  the  poor  woman  with 
a  sure  hand  and  then  give  themselves  a  scratch.  It 
was  to  be  one  spoonful  for  him,  but  two  for  me.  I 
can't  dwell  on  it"  (and  she  hid  her  face  in  her  hands) ; 
"it  is  too  terrible  to  remember  how  far  I  was  misled. 
Who,  think  you,  saved  us  both.?" 

David  could  not  guess. 


1^,^  >^.-7  :P^^  ^E  LITTLE, 

'**A*  little  angel,  my  good  angel,  that  came  home  from 
sea  that  very  afternoon.  When  I  saw  your  curly  head, 
and  your  sweet  sunburnt  face  come  in  at  the  door,  guess 
if  I  thought  of  putting  death  in  the  pot  after  that;  ah! 
the  love  of  our  own  flesh  and  blood,  that  is  the  love. 
God  and  good  angels  can  smile  on  it." 

"Yes;  but  go  on,"  said  David  impatiently. 

"It  is  ended,  David.  They  say  a  woman's  heart  is 
a  riddle;  and  perhaps  you  will  think  so  when  I  tell  you 
that  when  he  had  brought  me  down  to  this,  and  had  n't 
died  for  it,  I  turned  as  cold  as  ice  to  him  that  minute, 
once  and  for  ever.  I  looked  back  at  the  precipice,  and 
I  hated  him.  Ay,  from  that  evening  he  was  like  the 
black  dog  to  my  eye.  I  used  to  slip  anywhere  to  hide 
out  of  his  way — just  as  you  did  out  of  mine  but  now." 

"Can't  you  forget  that.?    Well,  to  be  sure.    Well.?" 

"So  then  (now  you  may  learn  what  these  skim-milk 
cheeses  are  made  of),  when  he  found  he  was  my  aver- 
sion, he  fell  in  love  with  me  again  as  hot  as  ever;  tried 
all  he  could  think  of  to  win  me  back;  wrote  a  letter 
every  day;  came  to  me  every  other  day,  and  when  he 
saw  it  was  all  over  for  good  between  us,  he  cried  and 
bellowed  till  my  hate  all  went,  and  scorn  came  in  its 
place.  Next  time  we  met  he  played  quite  another  part, 
the  calm  heart-broken  Christian;  gave  me  his  blessing, 
went  down  on  his  knees,  and  prayed  a  beautiful  prayer 
that  took  me  off  my  guard  and  made  me  almost  respect 
him;  then  went  away,  and  quietly  married  the  girl  with 
money.  And  six  months  after  wrote  to  me  he  was 
miserable,  dated  from  the  vicarage  her  parents  had  got 
him." 

"Now  you  know  if  he  wasn't  a  parson,  d  —  n  me  if 
I'd  turn  in  to-night  till  I'd  ropes-ended  that  lubber!" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  103 

**As  if  I'd  let  you  dirty  your  hands  with  such  rubbish. 
I  sent  the  note  back  to  him  with  just  one  Une,  'Such  a 
fool  as  you  are  has  no  right  to  be  a  villain.'  There, 
David,  there  is  your  poor  sister's  life.  Oh,  what  I 
went  through  for  that  man!  Often  I  said,  is  Heaven 
just  to  let  a  poor  faithful  loving  girl,  who  has  done  no 
harm,  be  played  with  on  the  hook  and  tortured  hot  and 
cold,  day  after  day,  month  after  month,  year  after 
year,  as  I  was  ?  But  now  I  see  why  it  was  permitted  — 
it  was  for  your  sake,  that  you  might  profit  by  my  sharp 
experience,  and  not  fling  your  heart  away  on  frozen 
mud  as  I  did";  and,  happy  in  this  feminine  theory 
of  divine  justice.  Eve  rested  on  her  brother  a  look  that 
would  have  adorned  a  seraph,  then  took  him  gently 
round  the  neck  and  laid  her  little  cheek  flat  to  his. 

She  felt  as  if  she  had  just  saved  a  beloved  life. 

Who  can  estimate  the  value  of  a  happiness  so  momen- 
tary, yet  so  holy? 

Presently  looking  up  she  saw  David's  face  illumi- 
nated. 

"  What  is  it  .^  "she  asked  joyously  ;'*  you  look  pleased." 

David  was  "pleased  because  now  he  was  sure  she 
could  feel  for  him  and  would  side  with  him." 

"That  I  do;  but,  David  —  as  it  is  all  over  between 
you  and  her " 

"All  over  ?    Am  I  dead,  then  ?'' 

Eve  gasped  with  astonishment;  "Why,  what  have 
I  been  telling  you  all  this  for.?" 

"Who  should  you  tell  your  trouble  to  but  your  own 
brother  ?  Why,  Eve,  ha !  ha !  you  don't  really  see  any 
likeness  between  your  case  and  mine,  do  you.?  You 
are  not  so  blind  as  to  compare  her  with  that  thundering 
muff.?" 


104  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"They  are  brother  and  sister,  as  we  are,"  was  the 
reply.  *'Ever  since  I  saw  you  looked  her  way,  my  eye 
has  hardly  been  off  her;  and  she  is  Henry  Dyke  in  petti- 
coats." 

"I  don't  thank  you  for  saying  that.  Well,  and  if 
she  is,  what  has  that  to  do  with  it  ?  I  am  not  a  woman. 
I  am  not  forced  to  lie-to  waiting  for  a  wind  as  the  girls 
are.  I  am  a  man.  I  can  work  for  the  wish  of  my 
heart,  and,  if  it  does  not  come  to  meet  me,  I  can  over- 
haul it." 

Eve  was  a  little  staggered  by  this  thrust,  but  she  was 
not  one  to  show  an  antagonist  any  advantage  he  had 
obtained.  '* David,"  said  she  coldly,  "it  must  come 
to  one  of  two  things:  either  she  will  send  you  about 
your  business  in  form,  which  is  a  needless  affront  for 
you  and  me  both;  or  she  will  hold  you  in  hand,  and 
play  with  you  and  drive  you  mad.  Take  warning,  re- 
member what  is  in  our  blood.  Father  was  as  well  as  you 
are,  but  agitation  and  vexation  robbed  him  of  his  reason 
for  a  while;  and  you  and  I  are  his  children.  Milk  of 
roses  creeps  along  in  that  young  lady's  veins,  but  fire 
gallops  in  ours.  Give  her  up,  David,  as  she  has  you. 
She  has  let  you  escape;  don't  fly  back  like  a  moth 
to  the  candle!  you  shan't,  however  —  I  won't  let 
you." 

"Eve,"  said  David  quietly,  "you  argue  well;  but 
you  can't  argue  light  into  dark,  nor  night  into  day. 
She  is  the  sun  to  me.  I  have  seen  her  light,  and  now 
I  can't  live  without  it." 

He  added  more  calmly,  "It  is  her  or  none.  I  never 
saw  a  girl  but  this  that  I  wanted  to  see  twice,  and  I 
never  shall." 

"But  it  is  that  which  frightens  me  for  you,  David. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  105 

Often  I  have  wished  I  could  see  you  flirt  a  bit,  and  har- 
den your  heart." 

"And  break  some  poor  girl's?" 

'*Oh,  hang  them;  they  always  contrive  to  pass  it 
on.  What  do  I  care  for  girls !  they  are  not  my  brother. 
But  no,  David,  I  can't  believe  you  will  go  against  me 
and  my  judgment  after  the  insult  she  has  put  on  you; 
no  more  about  it,  but  just  you  choose  between  my 
respect  and  this  wild-goose  chase." 

**I  choose  both,"  said  David  quietly. 

**Both  you  shan't  have;"  and  with  this  up  bounced 
Eve  and  stood  before  him  bristling  like  a  cat-o'-moun- 
tain. David  tried  to  soothe  her,  to  coax  her — ^in  vain; 
her  cheek  was  on  fire  and  her  eyes  like  basilisks'.  It 
was  a  picture  to  see  the  pretty  little  fury  stand  so  erect 
and  threatening,  and  great  David  so  humble  and  de- 
precating, yet  so  dogged.  At  last  he  took  out  his 
knife:  it  was  not  one  of  your  stabbing-knives,  but  the 
sort  of  pruning-knif  e  that  no  sailor  went  without  in  those 
days.  "Now,"  said  he  sadly,  "take  and  cut  my  head 
off,  cut  me  to  pieces  if  you  will  —  I  won't  wince,  or  com- 
plain—  and  then  you  will  get  your  way;  but  while  I 
do  live  I  shall  love  her,  and  I  can't  afford  to  lose  her  by 
sitting  twiddling  my  thumbs  waiting  for  luck.  I'll  try  all 
I  know  to  win  her,  and  if  I  lose  her  I  won't  blame 
her,  but  myself  for  not  finding  out  how  to  please  her; 
and  with  that  I'll  live  a  bachelor  all  my  days  for  her,  or 
else  die,'just  as  God  wills  — I  sha'n't  much  care  which." 

"Oh,  I  know  you,  you  obstinate  toad,"  said  Eve, 
clenching  her  teeth  and  her  little  hand.  Then  she 
burst  out  furiously,  "Are  you  quite  resolved.?" 

"Quite,  dear  Eve,"  said  David  sadly;  but  somehow 
it  was  like  a  rock  speaking. 


106  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Then  there  is  my  hand,"  said  Eve,  with  an  instant 
transition  to  amiable  cheerfulness,  that  dazzled  a  body 
like  a  dark  lanthorn  flying  open.  Used  as  David  was 
to  her,  it  stupefied  him;  he  stared  at  her  and  was  all 
abroad.  "Well,  what  is  the  wonder  now.?"  inquired 
Eve;  "there  are  but  two  of  us.  We  must  be  together 
somehow  or  another,  must  n't  we  ?  You  won't  be  wise 
with  me;  well,  then,  I'll  be  a  fool  with  you.  I'll  help 
you  with  this  girl." 

"Oh!  my  dear  Eve!" 

"You  won't  gain  much.  Without  me  you  had  n't 
the  shadow  of  a  chance,  and  with  me  you  have  n't  a 
chance,  that  is  all  the  odds." 

"I  have!  I  have!  you  have  taken  away  my  breath 
with  joy,"  and  David  was  quite  overcome  at  the  turn 
Eve  had  taken  in  his  favour. 

"Oh,  you  need  not  thank  me,"  said  Eve,  tossing  her 
head,  with  a  hypocrisy  all  her  own.  "It  is  not  out  of 
affection  for  you  I  do  it,  you  may  be  very  sure  of  that. 
But  it  looks  so  ridiculous  to  see  my  brother  slipping 
out  of  my  way  behind  a  tree  as  soon  as  he  sees  me  com- 
ing. Oh!  oh!  oh!  oh!"  And  a  violent  burst  of  sobs 
and  tears  revealed  how  that  incident  had  rankled  in 
this  stoical  little  heart. 

David,  with  the  tear  in  his  own  eye,  clasped  her  in 
his  arms,  and  kissed  her,  and  coaxed  her,  and  begged 
her  again  and  again  to  forgive  him.  This  she  did 
internally  at  the  first  word,  but  externally  no;  pouted 
and  sobbed  till  she  had  exacted  her  full  tribute,  then 
cleared  up  with  sudden  alacrity  and  inquired  his  plans. 
"I  am  going  to  call  at  Font  Abbey,  and  find  out 
whether  I  have  offended  her." 

Eve  demurred.    "That  would  never  do.    You  would 


LOVE  IVIE  LONG  107 

betray  yourself,  and  there  would  be  an  end  of  you. 
How  good  I  am  not  to  let  you  go.  No,  I'll  call  there. 
I  shall  quietly  find  out  whether  it  is  her  doing  that  we 
have  not  been  invited  so  long,  or  whose  it  is.  You  stay 
where  you  are.     I  won't  be  a  minute." 

When  the  minute  was  thirty-five,  David  came  under 
her  window  and  called  her;  she  popped  her  head  out  — 
"Well.P'* 

"What  are  you  doing?" 

*' Putting  on  my  bonnet." 

**Why,  you  have  been  an  hour." 

**  You  would  n't  have  me  go  there  a  fright,  would 
you.?" 

At  last  she  came  down,  and  started  for  Font  Abbey, 
and  David  was  left  to  count  the  minutes  till  her  return. 
He  paced  the  gravel  sailor-wise,  taking  six  steps  and 
then  turning,  instead  of  going  in  each  direction  as  far 
as  he  could.  He  longed  and  feared  his  sister's  return. 
One  hour  —  two  hours  elapsed  —  still  he  walked  a  sup- 
posed deck  on  the  little  lawn.  Six  steps,  and  then  turn. 
At  last  he  saw  her  coming  in  the  distance,  he  ran  to 
meet  her;  but  when  he  came  up  with  her  he  did  not 
speak,  but  looked  wistfully  in  her  face,  and  tried  hard 
to  read  it  and  his  fate. 

"Now,  David,  don't  make  a  fool  of  yourself,  or  I 
won't  tell  you." 

"No,  no.     I'll  be  calm,  I  will  —  be  —  calm." 

"  Well  then  for  one  thing  —  she  is  to  drink  tea  with  us 
this  evening." 

"She?  Who.?     What.?     Where.?     Oh!" 

"Here." 


# 


CHAPTER  V 

Mr.  Fountain  sat  at  breakfast  opposite  his  niece  with 
a  twinkle  set  in  his  eye  hke  a  cherry  clack  in  a  tree, 
relishing  beforehand  her  smiles  and  blushes  and  grati- 
tude to  him  for  having  hooked  and  played  his  friend, 
so  that  now  she  had  but  to  land  him.  "I'll  just  finish 
this  delicious  cup  of  coffee,"  thought  he,  "  and  then  I'll 
tell  you,  my  lady."  Whilst  he  was  slowly  sipping  said 
cup,  Lucy  looked  up,  and  said  graciously  to  him:  '* How 
silly  Mr.  Talboys  was  last  night,  was  he  not,  dear?" 

*'Talboys  ?  silly  ?  what  ?  do  you  know  ?  Why,  what 
on  earth  do  you  mean?" 

'* Silly  is  a  harsh  word;  injudicious,  then:  praising 
me  a  tort  et  a  travers,  and  was  downright  ill-bred;  was 
discourteous  to  another  of  our  guests,  Mr.  Dodd." 

"Confound  Mr.  Dodd!  I  wish  I  had  never  invited 
him." 

"So  do  I.     If  you  remember,  I  dissuaded  you." 

"I  do  remember  now;  what,  you  don't  like  him 
either?" 

"There  you  are  mistaken,  dear.  I  esteem  Mr. 
Dodd  highly,  and  Miss  Dodd  too,  in  spite  of  her  mani- 
fest defects;  but  in  making  up  parties,  however  small, 
we  should  choose  our  guests  with  reference  to  each 
other,  not  merely  to  ourselves.  Now,  forgive  me,  it 
was  clear  beforehand  that  Mr.  Fountain  and  the  Dodds, 
especially  Miss  Dodd,  would  never  coalesce  —  hence  my 
objection  to  inviting  them;  but  you  overruled  me  — 
with  a  rod  of  iron,  dear." 

108 


LOVE  ME  LONG  109 

"Yes,  but  why?  because  you  gave  me  such  a  bad 
reason;  you  never  said  a  word  about  this  incongruity." 

*'But  it  was  in  my  mind  all  the  time. 

''Then,  why  didn't  it  come  out.?" 

"Because  —  because  something  else  would  come  out 
instead.  As  if  one  gave  one's  real  reasons  for  things ! ! 
Now,  uncle  dear,  you  allow  me  great  liberties;  but 
would  it  have  been  quite  the  thing  for  me  to  lecture 
you  upon  the  selection  of  your  own  convives  .^" 

"Why,  you  have  ended  by  doing  it." 

Lucy  coloured.  "Not  till  the  event  proves  —  not 
till " 

"Not  till  your  advice  is  no  longer  any  use." 

Lucy,  driven  into  a  corner,  replied  by  an  imploring 
look,  which  had  just  the  opposite  effect  of  argument  — 
it  instantly  disarmed  the  old  boy;  he  grinned  superior 
and  spared  his  supple  antagonist  three  sarcasms  that 
were  all  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue.  He  was  rewarded 
for  his  clemency  by  a  little  piece  of  advice,  delivered  by 
his  niece  with  a  sort  of  hesitating  and  penitent  air  he 
did  not  understand  one  bit,  eyes  down  upon  the  cloth 
all  the  time. 

It  came  to  this:  he  was  to  listen  to  her  suggestions 
with  a  prejudice  in  their  favour,  if  he  could,  and  give 
them  credit  for  being  backed  by  good  reasons;  at  all 
events,  he  was  never  to  do  them  the  injustice  to  suppose 
they  rested  on  those  puny  considerations  she  might  put 
forward  in  connection  with  them. 

"Silly"  is  a  term  carrying  with  it  a  certain  prompt- 
ness and  decision;  above  all,  it  was  a  very  remarkable 
word  for  Lucy  to  use.  "The  girl  is  a  martinet  in  these 
things,"  thought  he;  she  can't  forgive  the  least  bit  of 
impoliteness.     I  suppose  he  snubbed  Jacky  Tar  —  what 


110  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

a  crime!  But  I  had  better  let  this  blow  over  before 
I  go  any  farther."  So  he  postponed  his  disclosure  till 
to-morrow. 

But  before  to-morrow  came,  he  had  thought  it  over 
again  and  convinced  himself  it  would  be  the  wiser 
course  not  to  interfere  at  all  for  the  present,  except 
by  throwing  the  young  people  constantly  together.  He 
had  lived  long  enough  to  see  that  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten, 
husband  and  wife  might  be  defined:  —  "A  man  and  a 
woman  that  were  thrown  a  good  deal  together — ^gen- 
erally in  the  country.  A.  marries  B.,  and  CD.,  but  under 
similar  circumstances,  i.e.  thrown  together,  A.  would 
have  married  D.,  and  C.  B.  This  applies  to  puppy 
dogs  male  and  female,  as  well  as  to  boys  and  girls." 

Perhaps  a  personal  feeling  had  some  little  share, 
too,  in  bringing  him  to  the  above  conclusion.  He  was 
a  bit  of  a  schemer  —  liked  to  play  puppets.  At  present 
his  niece  and  friend  were  the  largest  and  finest  puppets 
he  had  on  hand,  the  day  he  should  bring  them  to  a 
mutual,  rational  understanding,  the  puppet  strings 
would  fall  from  his  hands,  and  the  puppets  turn  in- 
dependent agents.  He  represented  to  Talboys,  that 
Lucy  was  young  and  very  innocent  in  some  respects; 
that  marriage  did  not  seem  to  run  in  her  head  as  in 
most  girls' ;  that  a  precipitate  avowal  might  startle  her, 
and  raise  unnecessary  difficulties  by  putting  her  on  her 
guard  too  early  in  their  acquaintance;  *'you  have  no 
rival,"  he  concluded;  ''best  win  her  quietly  by  degrees. 
Undermine  the  coy  jade!  she  is  worth  it."  Cool  Tal- 
boys acquiesced.  David  had  spurred  him  out  of  his 
pace  one  night.  But  David  was  put  out  of  the  way,  the 
course  was  clear;  and,  as  he  could  walk  over  it  now, 
why  gallop  ? 


LOVE  ME  LONG  111 

Childish  as  his  friend's  jealousy  of  this  poor  sailor 
had  seemed  to  Mr.  Fountain,  still,  the  idea  once  started 
he  could  not  help  inspecting  Lucy  to  see  how  she  would 
take  his  sudden  exclusion  from  these  parties.  Now, 
Lucy  missed  the  Dodds  very  much,  and  was  surprised 
to  see  them  invited  no  more;  but  it  was  not  in  her  char- 
acter to  satisfy  a  curiosity  of  this  sort  by  putting  a  point- 
blank  question  to  the  person  who  could  tell  her  in  two 
words.  She  was  one  of  those  thorough  women  whose 
instinct  it  is  to  find  out  little  things,  not  to  ask  about 
them.  When  day  after  day  passed  by  and  the  Dodds 
were  not  invited,  it  flashed  through  her  mind  first,  that 
there  must  be  some  reason  for  this ;  secondly,  that  she 
had  only  to  take  no  notice,  and  the  reason,  if  any,  would 
be  sure  to  pop  out.  She  half  suspected  Talboys;  but 
she  gave  him  no  sign  of  suspicion.  With  unrufiled 
demeanour  and  tranquil  patience,  she  watched  demurely 
for  disclosures  from  her  uncle  or  from  him,  like  the 
prettiest  little  velvet  panther  conceivable  lying  flat  in 
a  blind  path,  deranging  nobody,  but  waiting  with 
amiable  tranquillity  for  her  friends  to  come  her  way. 

Thus,  under  the  smooth  surface  of  the  little  society 
at  Font  Abbey,  finesse  was  cannily  at  work.  But  the 
surface  of  every  society  is  like  the  skin  of  a  man  —  hides 
a  deal  of  secret  machinery. 

Here  were  two  undermining  a  "coy  jade"  (perhaps, 
on  the  whole.  Uncle  Fountain,  it  might  be  more  pru- 
dent in  you  not  to  call  her  that  name  again;  you  see, 
she  is  my  heroine,  and  I  am  a  man  that  could  cut  you 
out  of  this  story,  and  nobody  miss  you),  and  the  coy 
jade  watching  for  the  miners,  like  a  sweet  little  velvet 
panther,  and,  to  fling  away  metaphor,  an  honest  heart  set 
aching  sore  hard  by  for  having  come  among  such  a  lot. 


CHAPTER  VI 

A  FABLE  tells  US  a  fowler  one  day  saw  sitting  in  a  tree 
a  wood-pigeon.  This  is  a  very  shy  bird,  so  he  had  to 
creep  and  manoeuvre  to  get  within  gun  shot  unseen,  un- 
heard. He  stole  from  tree  to  tree,  and  muffled  his 
footsteps  in  the  long  grass  so  adroitly,  that,  just  as  he 
was  going  to  pull  the  trigger,  he  stepped  light  as  a  feather 
on  a  venomous  snake,  it  bit,  he  died. 

This  is  amusing,  and  pointed,  but  a  trifle  severe. 

What  befell  Uncle  Fountain  busy  enmeshing  his  cock 
and  hen  pheasant,  netting  a  niece  and  a  friend,  went 
to  the  same  tune,  but  in  a  lower  key  as  befitted  a 
domestic  tale.* 

Among  his  letters  at  breakfast-time  came  one,  which 
he  had  no  sooner  read,  than  he  flung  it  on  the  table 
and  went  into  a  fury.  Lucy  sat  aghast;  then  inquired 
with  tender  anxiety  what  was  the  matter? 

Angry  explanations  are  apt  to  be  dark  ones.  "It 
is  a  confounded  shame  —  it  is  a  trick,  child  —  it  is  a  do." 

"Ah.?  what  is  that,  uncle.?  'a  do.?'— 'a  do.?'  " 

"Yes,  'a  do.'  He  knew  I  hate  figures;  can't  bear 
the  sight  of  them,  and  the  cursed  responsibility  of 
adding  them  up  right. '^ 

"But  who  knew  all  this?" 

"He  came  over  here  bursting  with  health,  and  asked 
me  to  be  one  of  his  executors ;  mind,  one.  I  consented 
on  a  distinct  understanding  I  was  never  to  be  called 


*  "Domestic"  you  are  aware  is  Latin  for  "Tame."    Ex.    "domestic  fowl,"  "Domestic 
drama,"  "Story  of  domestic  interest,"  or  "chronicle  of  small  beer." 

112 


LOVE  ME  LONG  113 

upon  to  act.  He  was  twenty  years  my  junior,  and  like 
so  much  mahogany;  it  was  just  a  form.  I  did  it  to 
soothe  a  man,  who  called  himself  my  friend,  and  set 
his  mind  at  rest." 

''But,  uncle  dear,  I  don't  understand,  even  now; 
can  it  be  possible  that  a  friend  has  abused  your  good- 
nature ? 

'*A  little,"  with  an  angry  sneer. 

"Has  he  betrayed  your  confidence.'^" 

"Hasn't  he.?" 

"Oh,  dear!     What  has  he  done.?" 

"Died,  that  is  all,"  snarled  the  victim. 

"Oh,  uncle!     Poor  man!" 

"Poor  man!  no  doubt.  But  how  about  poor  me.? 
why  it  turns  out  I  am  sole  executor." 

"But,  dear  uncle,  how  could  the  poor  soul  help 
dying.?" 

"That  IS  not  candid,  Lucy,"  said  Mr.  Fountain 
severely.  "Did  ever  I  say  he  could  help  dying.?  But 
he  could  help  coming  here  under  false  colours,  a  mahog- 
any face,  and  trapping  his  friend." 

"Uncle,  what  is  the  use  your  trying  to  play  the 
misanthrope  with  me,  who  know  how  good  you  are  in 
spite  of  your  pretences  to  the  contrary .?  To  hide  your 
emotion  from  your  poor  niece,  you  go  into  a  feigned 
fury,  and  all  the  time  you  know  how  sorry  you  are  your 
poor  friend  is  gone." 

"Of  course  I  am.  He  has  secured  one  mourner. 
He  might  have  died  to  all  eternity  if  he  hadn't  nailed 
me  first.  See  how  selfish  men  are,  and  bad-hearted 
into  the  bargain.  I  believe  that  young  fellow  had  been 
to  a  doctor,  and  found  out  he  was  booked  in  spite  of  his 
mahogany   cheeks.     So   then   he   rides   out   here  and 


114  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

wheedles    an    unguarded    friend:    I'm    wired  —  I'm 
trapped  —  I  'm    snared." 

Lucy  set  herself  to  soothe  her  injured  relative :"  You 
must  say  to  yourself,  'c'est  un  "petit  malheur.'  " 

**Tell  myself  a  falsehood?  What  shall  I  gain  by 
that?  Let  me  tell  you  it  is  these  minor  troubles  that 
send  a  man  to  bedlam;  one  breeds  another  till  they 
swarm  and  buzz  you  distracted  and  sting  you  dead. 
^  Petit  malheurF  it  is  a  greater  one  than  you  have  ever 
encountered  since  you  have  been  under  my  wing." 

**It  is,  dear,  it  is;  but  I  hope  to  encounter  much 
greater  ones  before  I  am  your  age." 

"The  deuce  you  do!" 

"Or  else  I  shall  die  without  ever  having  lived,  a 
vegetable,  not  a  human  being." 

"Bombast!  a  'flower'  your  lovers  will  call  you." 

"And  men  of  sense  a  *weed.'  But  don't  let  us  dis- 
cuss me.  What  I  wish  to  know  is  the  nature  of  your 
annoyance,  dear."  He  explained  to  her  with  a  groan, 
that  he  should  have  to  wind  up  all  the  affairs  of  an 
estate  of  £8,000  a  year,  pay  the  annual  and  other 
incumbrances,  etc.,  etc. 

"Well  but,  dear,  you  will  be  quite  at  home  in  this, 
you  have  such  a  turn  for  business." 

"For  my  own,"  shrieked  the  old  bachelor  angrily: 
"not  for  other  people's.  Why,  Lucy,  there  will  be 
half-a-dozen  separate  accounts,  all  of  four  figures.  It 
is  not  as  if  executors  were  paid.  And  why  are  they 
not  paid?  There  ought  to  be  a  law  compelling  the 
estates  they  administer  to  pay  them,  and  handsomely. 
It  never  occurred  to  me  before,  but  now  I  see  the  mon- 
strous iniquity  of  amateur  executors,  amateur  trustees, 
amateur  guardians.     They  take  business   out  of  the 


LOVE  ME  LONG  115 

hands  of  those  who  Kve  by  business.  I  sincerely  regret 
my  share  in  this  injustice.  If  a  snob  works  he  always 
expects  to  be  paid.  How  much  more  a  gentleman.  He 
ought  to  be  paid  double;  once  for  the  work,  once  for 
giying  up  his  natural  ease.  Here  am  I,  guardian  gratis 
to  a  cub  of  sixteen,  the  worst  age,  done  school  and  not 
begun  Oxford  and  governesses." 

"Tutors,  you  mean." 

**Do  I.^  is  it  the  tutors  the  whelps  fall  in  love 
with  little  goose  ?  Stop :  I  '11  describe  my  *  interesting 
charge,'  as  the  books  call  it.  He  has  hair  you  could 
not  tell  from  tow.  He  has  no  eyebrows  —  a  little, 
unfledged,  slippery  horror.  He  used  to  come  in  to 
dessert,  and  turn  all  our  stomachs,  except  his  silly 
father's." 

"Poor  orphan!" 

"  When  you  speak  to  him  he  never  answers.  Blushes 
instead." 

"Poor  child!" 

"He  has  read  of  eloquent  blushes,  and  thinks  there 
is  no  need  to  reply  in  words ;  blushing  must  be  such  an 
interesting  and  effective  substitute." 

"Poor  boy;  he  wants  a  little  judicious  kindness.  We 
will  have  him  here." 

"Here!"  cried  the  old  gentleman  with  horror. 
"What.^  make  Font  Abbey  a  kennel!!!  No,  Lucy,  no, 
this  house  is  sacred;  no  nuisances  admitted  here.  Here, 
on  this  single  spot  of  earth  reigns  comfort,  and  shall 
reign  unruflBied  while  I  live.  This  is  the  temple  of 
peace.  If  I  must  be  worried  I  must,  but  not  beneath 
this  hallowed  roof." 

This  eloquence,  delivered  as  it  was  with  a  sudden 
solemnity,  told  upon  the  mind. 


116  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Dear  Font  Abbey,"  murmured  Lucy,  half  closing 
her  eyes,  "how  well  you  describe  it  —  cosiest  of  the 
cosy.  The  walls  seem  padded,  the  carpets  velvet,  and 
the  whole  structure  care-proof;  all  is  quiet  gaiety  and 
sweet  punctuality.  Here  comfort  and  good-humour 
move  by  clock-work  —  that  is  Font  Abbey.  Yet,  you 
are  right  —  if  you  were  to  be  seen  in  it  no  more,  it 
would  lose  the  life  of  its  charm,  dear  Uncle  Fountain." 

"Thank  you,  my  dear,  thank  you.  I  do  like  to  see 
my  friends  about  me  comfortable;  and,  above  all,  to 
be  comfortable  myself.  The  place  is  well  enough,  and 
I  am  bitterly  sorry  I  must  leave  it,  and  sorry  to  leave 
you,  my  dear." 

"Leave  us  ?  not  immediately .?" 

"This  very  day.  Why,  the  funeral  is  to  be  this 
week  —  a  grand  funeral  —  and  I  have  to  order  it  all. 
Then  there  are  relatives  to  be  invited  —  thirty  letters  — 
others  to  be  asked  to  the  reading  of  the  will.  It  will 
be  one  hurry-scurry  till  we  get  the  house  clear  of  the 
corpse  and  the  vultures ;  then  at  it  I  must  go  head  fore- 
most into  fathomless  addition  —  subtraction  —  multi- 
plication and  vexation.  *Oh,  now  for  ever  farewell 
something  or  other  —  farewell  content!'  You  talk  of 
misanthrophy.     I  shall  end  there. — Lucy!" 

"Yes,  dear  uncle." 

"I  never  —  do  —  a  good-natured  thing  —  but  — I  — 
bitterly  —  repent  it.  By  Jupiter,  the  coffee  is  cold; 
the  first  time  that  has  befallen  me  since  I  turned  off 
seven  servants  that  battled  that  point  of  comfort  with 


me." 


Lucy  suggested  that  the  coffee  might  have  cooled  a 
little  while  he  was  being  so  kind  as  to  answer  her  ques- 
tion at  unusual  length.     Then  she  came  round  to  him 


LOVE  ME  LONG  117 

bringing  a  fresh  supply  of  fragrant  slow  poison,  and  sat 
beside  him  and  soothed  him,  till  his  ire  went  down,  and 
came  the  calm  depression  of  a  man,  who,  accustomed 
for  many  years  to  do  just  what  he  liked,  found  himself 
suddenly  obliged  to  do  something  he  did  not  Hke,  a 
thing  out  of  the  groove  of  his  habits  too. 

Sure  enough  he  left  Font  Abbey  the  same  day,  with  a 
promise,  exacted  by  Lucy,  that  he  should  make  her  ( 
the  partner  of  all  his  vexations  by  writing  to  her  every 
day.  '*  And,  Lucy,"  said  the  old  Parthian,  as  he  stepped 
into  his  travelling-carriage,  "my  friend  Talboys  will 
miss  me;  pray  be  kind  to  him  while  I  am  away.  He  is 
a  particular  friend  of  mine.  I  may  be  wrong;  but  I 
do  like  men  of  known  origin,  of  old  family." 

**  And  you  are  right.  I  will  be  kind  to  him  for  your 
sake,  dear." 

A  slight  cold  confined  Lucy  to  the  house  for  three  or 
four  days  after  her  uncle's  departure  (by-the-by,  I 
think  this  must  have  been  the  reason  of  David's  ill- 
success  in  his  endeavours  to  get  an  interview  with  her 
out  of  doors). 

Thus  circumstanced,  ladies  rummage. 

Lucy  found  in  a  garret  a  chest  containing  a  quantity 
of  papers  and  parchments;  and  the  beautifuUest  dust. 
No  such  dust  is  made  in  these  degenerate  days.  Some 
of  these  MSS.  bore  recent  dates,  and  were  easily  legible, 
though  not  so  easily  intelligible,  being  written  as 
Gratiano  spake.*  The  writers  had  omitted  to  put  the 
idea'd  words  into  red  ink:  so  they  had  to  be  picked  out 
with  infinite  difficulty  from  the  multitude  of  unidea'd 
ones. 


*  "Gratiano  speaks  an  infinite  deal  of  nothing his  reasons  are  as  three 

grains  of  wheat  in  two  bushels  of  chaflf." 


118  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Other  of  the  MSS.,  more  ancient,  wore  a  double  veil. 
They  hid  their  sense  in  verbiage,  and  also  in  narrow 
germanified  letters  further  deformed  by  contractions 
and  ornamental  flourishes,  whose  joint  effect  made  a 
word  look  like  a  black  daddy-long-legs,  all  sprawling 
fantastic  limbs  and  the  body  a  dot. 

The  perusal  of  these  pieces  was  slow  and  painful,  it 
was  like  walking  or  slipping  about  among  broken  ruins 
overgrown  with  nettles.  But  then  Uncle  Fountain 
was  so  anxious  to  hook  on  to  the  Flunkeys,  oh  Ciel !  what 
am  I  saying  ?  the  Funteyns ;  and  his  direct  genealogical 
evidence  had  so  completely  broken  down.  She  said  to 
herself,  "Oh  dear,  if  I  could  find  something  among 
these  old  writings  and  show  it  him  on  his  return."  She 
had  them  all  dusted  and  brought  down  and  a  tablecloth 
laid  on  a  long  table  in  the  drawing-room,  and  spelled 
them  with  a  good-humoured  patience  that  belonged 
partly  to  her  character  partly  to  her  sex.  A  female 
who  undertakes  this  sort  of  work  does  not  skip  as  we 
should;  the  habit  of  needlework  in  all  its  branches 
reconciles  that  portion  of  mankind  to  invisible  progress 
in  other  matters. 

Besides  this  they  are  naturally  careful,  and,  above 
all,  born  to  endure  they  carry  patience  into  nearly  all 
they  do.* 

Lucy  made  her  way  manfully  through  all  the  well- 
written  circumlocution,  and  in  a  very  short  time  con- 
sidering; but  the  antique  ^arroXoyLa  tried  her  eyes  too 
much  at  night,  so  she  gave  nearly  her  whole  day  to  it, 
for  she  was  anxious  to  finish  all  before  her  uncle's 


*  At  about  the  third  rehearsal  of  a  new  play,  our  actresses  bring  the  author's  words  in 
their  heads,  our  actors  are  still  all  abroad,  and  at  the  first  performance  the  breaks-down 
are  sure  to  be  amongst  the  males :  the  female  jumenta  carry  their  burden  (be  it  of  pig-lead) 
safe  from  wing  to  wing. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  119 

return.     It  was  a  curious  picture:  Venus  immersed  in 
musty  records. 

One  day  she  had  studied  and  spelled  four  mortal 
hours,  when  a  visitor  was  suddenly  announced  —  Miss 
Dodd.  That  young  lady  came  briskly  in  at  the  heels 
of  the  servant  and  caught  Lucy  at  her  work.  After 
the  first  greeting,  her  eye  rested  with  such  undisguised  / 
curiosity  on  the  "mouldy  records,"  that  Lucy  told  her 
in  general  terms  what  she  was  trying  to  do  for  her 
uncle.  "La,"  said  Eve,  "you  will  ruin  your  eyesight; 
why  not  send  them  over  to  us  —  I  will  make  David 
read  them." 

"And  his  eyesight?" 

"  Oh,  bless  you,  he  has  a  knack  at  reading  old  writing. 
He  has  made  a  study  of  it." 

"If  I  thought  I  was  not  presuming  too  far  on  Mr. 
Dodd's  good-nature  I  would  send  one  or  two  of  them." 

"Do;  and  I  will  make  him  draw  up  a  paper  of  the 
contents.  I  have  seen  him  at  this  sort  of  work  before 
now.     But  there,  la,  I  suppose  you  know  it  is  all  vanity." 

"I  do  it  to  please  my  poor  uncle." 

"And  very  good  you  are;  but  what  the  better  will  the 
poor  old  gentleman  be.  We  are  here  to  act  our  own 
part  well  —  we  can't  ride  up  to  Heaven  on  our  great- 
grandfather." 

These  maxims  were  somewhat  coldly  received.  So 
Eve  shifted  her  ground.  "After  all,  I  don't  know  why 
I  should  be  the  one  to  say  that;  for  my  own  name  is 
older  than  your  uncle's  a  pretty  deal." 

Lucy  looked  puzzled ;  then  suddenly  fancying  she  had 
caught  Eve's  meaning,  she  said,  "That  is  true.  Hail 
mother  of  mankind!!"  and  bowed  her  head  with  grace- 
ful reverence. 


120  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Eve  stared  and  coloured,  not  knowing  what  on  earth 
her  companion  meant.  I  am  afraid  it  must  be  owned 
that  Eve  steadily  eschewed  books,  and  always  had. 
What  little  book-learning  she  had  came  to  her  filtered 
through  David,  and  by  this  channel  she  accepted  it 
willingly;  even  sought  it  at  odd  times,  when  there  was 
no  bread,  pudding,  dress,  theology,  scandal,  or  fun, 
going  on.  She  turned  it  off  by  a  sudden  inquiry  where 
Mr.  Fountain  was,  "they  told  me  in  the  village  he  was 
away."  Now  several  circumstances  combined  to  make 
Lucy  more  communicative  than  usual.  First,  she  had 
been  studying  hard ;  and  after  long  study,  when  a  lively 
person  comes  to  us,  it  is  a  great  incitement  to  talk. 
Pitiful  by  nature,  I  spare  you  the  *'  bent  bow."  Secondly, 
she  was  a  little  anxious  lest  her  uncle's  sudden  neglect 
should  have  mortified  Miss  Dodd,  and  a  neutral  topic 
handled  at  length  tends  to  replace  friendly  feeling 
without  direct  and  unpleasant  explanations.  She  there- 
fore answered  every  question  in  full;  told  her  that  her 
uncle  had  lost  a  dear  friend,  that  he  was  executor  and 
guardian  to  the  poor  boy,  now  entirely  an  orphan. 
Her  uncle  with  his  usual  zeal  on  behalf  of  his  friends 
had  gone  off  at  once,  and  doubtless  would  not  return 
till  he  had  fulfilled  in  every  respect  the  wishes  of  the 
deceased. 

To  this  general  sketch  she  added  many  details,  sup- 
pressing the  misanthropy  Mr.  Fountain  had  exhibited 
or  affected  at  the  first  receipt  of  the  intelligence. 

In  short,  angelic  gossip.  Earthly  gossip  always 
backbites,  you  know.  Eve  missed  something  some- 
how, no  doubt  the  human  or  backbiting  element; 
still  it  was  gossip,  sacred  gossip,  far  dearer  than 
Shakespeare    to    the    female   heart,    and   Eve's    eyes 


LOVE  ME  LONG  121 

glowed  with  pleasure,  and  her  tongue  plied  eager 
questions. 

With  all  this,  such  instinctive  artists  are  these  delicate 
creatures,  both  these  ladies  were  secretly  in  ambush, 
Lucy  to  learn  whether  Eve  and  David  were  hurt  or 
surprised  at  not  being  invited  of  late,  and  why  she  and 
he  had  not  called  since.  Eve  to  find  out  what  was  the 
cause  David  and  she  had  been  so  suddenly  dropped; 
was  it  Lucy's  doing  or  whose? 

Each  lady  being  bent  on  receiving  not  on  mak- 
ing revelations,  nothing  transpired  on  either  side. 
Seeing  this.  Eve  became  impatient  and  made  a  bold 
move. 

**Miss  Fountain,"  said  she,  **you  are  all  alone;  I 
wish  you  would  come  over  to  us  this  evening  and  have 
tea." 

Lucy  did  not  immediately  reply.  Eve  saw  her 
hesitation.  **It  is  but  a  poor  place,"  said  she,  **to 
ask  you   to." 

"I  will  come,"  said  the  lady  directly.  "I  will  come 
with  great  pleasure." 

'*  Will  seven  be  too  early  for  you  .^" 

"Oh,  no.  I  don't  dine  now  my  uncle  is  away.  I 
call  luncheon  dinner." 

"Perhaps  six,  then.?" 

* '  Pray  let  me  come  at  your  usual  hour.  Why  derange 
your  family  for  one  person.?" 

Six  o'clock  was  settled. 

"  I  must  take  some  of  this  rubbish  with  me,"  said  Eve, 
"come  along,  my  dears,"  and  with  an  ample  and  mock 
enthusiastic  gesture  she  caught  up  an  armful  of 
manuscripts. 

"The  servant  shall  take  them  over  for  you." 


122  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Oh,  bother  the  servant,  I  am  my  own  servant — if 
you  will  lend  me  a  pin  or  two." 

Lucy  drew  six  pins  out  from  different  parts  of  her 
dress.  Eve  noticed  this  but  said  nothing.  She  pinned 
up  her  apron  so  as  to  make  an  enormous  pocket,  and 
went  gaily  off  with  the  "spoils  of  time." 


CHAPTER  VII 

"Is  that  what  you  call  being  calm,  David  ?  Let  me  alone 
— don't  slobber  me.  I  am  sure  I  wish  she  had  said 
*No.'  If  I  had  thought  she  would  come  I  would  never 
have  asked  her." 

"You  would,  Eve,  you  would  for  love  of  me." 

"Who  knows  ?  perhaps  I  might.  I  am  more  indul- 
gent than  kind." 

"Eve,  do  tell  me  all.  Is  she  well  ?  does  she  come  of 
her  own  good  will  ?  Dear  Eve!" 

"Well,  I'll  tell  you;  first,  we  had  a  bit  of  a  talk  for  a 
blind,  like;  and  her  uncle  is  away;  so  then  I  asked  her 
plump  to  come  to  tea.  Well,  David,  first  she  looked 
'No' — only  for  a  single  moment  though,  she  soon  altered 
her  mind,  and  so  then  the  moment  it  was  to  be  'Yes' 
she  cleared  up,  and  you  would  have  thought  she  had 
been  asked  to  the  king's  banquet.  Ah,  David,  my  lad, 
you  have  fallen  into  good  hands — ^you  have  launched 
your  heart  on  a  deeper  ocean  than  ever  your  ship 
sailed  on." 

David  took  no  notice.  He  was  in  a  state  of  exaltation 
for  one  thing,  and  besides,  Eve's  simile  was  sent  to  the 
wrong  address ;  we  terrestrials  fear  water  in  proportion 
to  its  depth,  but  these  mariners  dread  their  native 
element  only  when  it  is  shallow. 

David  now  kept  asking  in  an  excited  way  what  could 
they  do  for  her  ?  What  could  they  get  to  do  her  honour  ? 
Would  n't  she  miss  the  luxuries  of  her  fine  place  ? 

"Now,   you  be    quiet,  David;    we    need    not   put 

123 


124  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

ourselves  about,  for  she  will  be  the  easiest  girl  to  please 
you  have  ever  seen  here ;  or  if  she  is  n't,  she  '11  act  it  so 
that  you  '11  be  none  the  wiser.  However,  you  can  go 
and  buy  some  flowers  for  me." 

"  That  I  will,  we  have  none  good  enough  for  her  here." 

"And,  David,  tea  under  the  Catalpa  as  we  always 
do  on  fine  nights." 

**You  don't  mean  that.^" 

**  Ah,  but  I  do — these  fine  ladies  are  all  for  novelties; 
now  I  'm  much  mistaken  if  this  one  has  ever  had  her  tea 
out  of  doors  in  all  her  born  days.  What,  do  you  think 
our  little  stuffy  room  would  be  any  treat  to  her  after  the 
drawing-room  at  Font  Abbey  .^  Come,  you  be  off  till 
half -past  five;  you  '11  fidget  yourself  and  fidget  me  else." 

David  recognised  her  superiority,  obeyed,  and 
vanished. 

Eve,  having  got  rid  of  him,  showed  none  of  the 
insouciance  she  had  recommended:  she  darted  into  the 
kitchen,  bared  her  arms  and  made  wheaten  cakes  with 
unequalled  rapidity,  the  servant  looking  on  with  demure 
admiration  all  the  while.  These  put  into  the  oven, 
she  got  her  keys  and  put  out  the  silver  tea-pot,  cream- 
jug,  and  sugar-basin,  things  not  used  every  day,  I  can 
tell  you:  item,  the  best  old  china  tea-service;  item, 
some  rare  tea  of  which  David  had  brought  home  a  small 
quantity  from  China.  At  six  o'clock  Miss  Fountain 
came;  a  footman  marched  twenty  yards  behind  her — 
she  dismissed  him  at  the  door,  and  Eve  invited  her  at 
once  into  the  garden.  There  David  joined  them,  his 
heart  beating  violently.  She  put  out  her  hand,  kindly 
and  calmly,  and  shook  hands  with  him  in  the  most 
unembarrassed  way  imaginable.  At  the  touch  of  her 
soft  hand  every  fibre  in  him  thrilled,  and  the  coloul* 


LOVE  ME  LONG  125 

rushed  into  his  face.  At  this  a  faint  blush  tinged  her 
own,  but  no  more  than  the  warm  welcome  she  was 
receiving  might  account  for. 

They  seated  her  in  a  comfortable  chair  under  the 
Catalpa.  Presently  out  came  a  nice  clean  maid,  her 
white  neck  half  hidden,  half  revealed  by  plain  unfigured 
muslin  worn  where  the  frock  ended.  She  put  the  tea- 
things  on  the  table,  and  curtsied  to  Lucy,  who  returned 
her  salute  by  a  benignant  smile;  out  came  another 
stouter  one  with  the  kettle,  hung  it  from  a  hoop  between 
two  stout  sticks,  and  lighted  a  fire  she  had  laid  under- 
neath, retiring  with  a  parting  look  at  the  kettle  as  soon 
as  it  hissed.  Then  returned  maid  one,  with  bread  and 
wheaten  cakes  and  fruit,  butter  nice  and  hard  from  the 
cellar,  and  yellow  cream,  and  went  off  smiling. 

A  gentle  zeal  seemed  to  animate  these  domestics,  as 
if  they  also  in  relative  proportions  gave  the  jete,  or  at 
least  contributed  good  will.  Lucy's  quick  eye  caught 
this ;  it  was  new  to  her. 

The  tea  was  soon  made,  and  its  Oriental  fragrance 
mingled  with  the  other  odours  that  filled  the  balmy  air. 
Gay  golden  broken  lights  flickered  in  patches  on  the 
table,  the  china  cups,  the  ladies'  dresses  and  the  grass, 
all  but  in  one  place  where  the  cool  deep  shadow  lay 
undisturbed  around  the  foot  of  the  tree-stem.  Looking 
up  to  see  whence  the  flickering  gold  came  that  sprinkled 
her  white  hand,  Lucy  saw  one  of  the  loveliest  and  com- 
monest things  in  nature:  the  sky  was  blue  —  the  sun 
fiery  —  the  air  potable  gold  outside  the  tree;  so  that,  as 
she  looked  up,  the  mellow  green  leaves  of  the  Catalpa, 
coming  between  her  and  the  bright  sky  and  glowing 
air,  shone  like  transparent  gold  —  staircase  upon  stair- 
case of  great  exotic  translucent  leaves,  with  specks  of 


/ 


126  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

lovely  blue  sky  that  seemed  to  come  down  and  perch 
among  the  top  branches.  Charming  as  these  sights 
were,  contrast  doubled  their  beauties;  for  all  these 
dimples  of  bright  blue  and  flakes  of  translucent  gold 
were  eyed  from  the  cool  and  from  the  deep  shade;  the 
light,  it  is  true,  came  down  and  danced  on  the  turf  here 
and  there,  but  it  left  its  heat  behind,  through  running 
the  gauntlet  of  the  myriad  leaves.  Over  Lucy's  head 
hung,  by  a  silk  line  from  one  of  the  branches,  a  huge 
globe  of  humble  but  fragrant  flowers;  they  were  in 
point  of  fact  fastened  with  marvellous  skill  all  round  a 
damp  sponge  —  but  she  did  not  know  that.  Thus  these 
simple  hosts  honoured  their  lovely  guest.  And  while 
these  sights  and  smells  stole  into  her  deep  eyes  and  her 
delicate  nostrils,  "Fiddle,  David,"  said  Eve  loftily,  and 
straightway  a  simple  mellow  tune  rang  sweetly  on  the 
cheerful  chords;  a  rustic,  dulcet  and  immortal  ditty, 
in  tune  with  summer,  and  afternoon,  with  gold  cheq- 
uered grass  and  leaves  that  slumbered  yet  vibrated  in 
the  glowing  air. 

A  bright  dreamy  hour;  the  soul  and  senses  floated 
gently  in  colour,  fragrance,  melody  and  great  calm  — 
"Each  sound  seemed  but  an  echo  of  tranquillity." 

Lucy  looked  up  and  absorbed  the  scene,  then  closed 
her  eyes  and  listened;  and  presently  her  lips  parted 
gradually  in  so  ravishing  a  smile,  her  eyes  remaining 
closed,  that  even  Eve,  who  saw  her  in  her  true  light,  a 
terrible  girl  come  there  to  burn  and  destroy  David, 
remaining  cool  as  a  cucumber,  could  hardly  forbear 
seizing  her  and  mumbling  her. 

In  certain  companies  you  shall  see  a  boisterous 
cordiality,  which  at  bottom  is  as  hollow  as  diplomacy. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  127 

But  there  is  a  modest  geniality  which  is  to  society  what 
the  bloom  is  to  the  plum. 

And  this  charm  Lucy  found  in  her  hosts  of  the 
Catalpa.  For  this  very  reason  that  they  were  her  hosts, 
their  manner  to  her  changed  a  little,  and  becomingly; 
they  made  no  secret  that  it  was  a  downright  pleasure  to 
them  to  have  her  there.  They  petted  her  and  showed 
her  so  much  simple  kindness,  that  what  with  the  scene, 
the  music  and  her  companions'  goodness,  the  coy  bud 
opened  —  timidly  at  first,  but  in  a  way  it  never  had 
expanded   at   Font  Abbey. 

She  even  developed  a  feeble  sense  of  fun,  followed 
suit  demurely  when  Eve  came  out  sprightly,  laughed 
like  a  brook  gurgling  to  Eve's  peal  of  bells ;  and,  lo  and 
behold,  when  the  two  girls  got  together,  and  faced  the 
man,  strong  in  numbers,  a  favourite  trick,  backed  her 
ally  as  cowards  back  the  brave,  and  set  her  on  to  sauce 
David.  They  cast  doubts  upon  his  skill  in  navigation. 
They  perplexed  him  with  treacherous  questions  in  geog- 
raphy put  with  an  innocent  affectation  of  a  humble 
desire  for  information.  In  short,  they  played  upon 
him  lightly  as  they  touch  the  piano.  And  Eve  carolled 
a  song,  and  David  accompanied  her  on  the  fiddle;  and 
at  the  third  verse  Lucy  chimed  in  spontaneously  with  a 
second,  and  the  next  verse  David  struck  in  with  a  bass, 
and  the  tepid  air  rang  with  harmony,  and  poor  David 
thrilled  with  happiness.  His  heart  felt  his  voice  mingle 
and  blend  with  hers,  and  even  this  contact  was  delicious 
to  his  imagination.  And  they  were  happy.  But  all 
must  end,  the  shades  of  evening  came  down,  and  the 
pleasant  little  party  broke  up,  and  as  John  had  not  come, 
David  asked  leave  to  escort  her  home.  Oh,  no;  she 
could  not  think  of  giving  him  that  trouble  — so  saying 


128  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

she  went  home  with  him.  When  they  were  alone  his 
deep  love  made  him  timid  and  confused.  He  walked 
by  her  side,  and  did  not  speak  to  her.  She  waited  with 
some  surprise  at  his  silence,  and  then  as  he  was  shy  she 
talked  to  him,  uttered  many  airy  nothings,  and  then  put 
questions  to  him.  *'Did  he  always  drink  tea  out  of 
doors .?" 

**  On  fine  nights  in  summer.  Eve  settled  all  such 
matters.'* 

**Have  you  not  a  voice  .^" 

**I  have  a  voice,  but  no  vote.  She  is  skipper 
ashore." 

**Oh,  is  she.^  Who  taught  her  how  delicious  it  is  to 
drink  tea  out  of  doors  .P" 

David  did  not  know,  fancied  it  was  her  own  idea. 
**Did  you  really  like  it.  Miss  Fountain.?" 

**  Like  it,  Mr.  Dodd,  it  was  Elysium.  I  never  passed 
a  sweeter  evening  in  my  life." 

David  coloured  all  over.  "I  wish  I  could  believe 
that." 

"Was  it  the  tulip-tree,  or  the  violin,  or  was  it  your 
conversation,  Mr.  Dodd,  I  wonder.?"  asked  she  de- 
murely, looking  mock  innocent  in  his  face. 

"It  was  your  goodness  to  be  so»easily  pleased,"  said 
Dodd  with  a  gush  that  made  her  colour — she  smijed, 
however.  "Well,  that  is  one  way  of  looking  at  things," 
said  she.  ^'Entre  nous,  I  think  Miss  Dodd  was  the 
enchantress." 

"Eve  is  capital  company  for  that  matter.'* 

"Indeed  she  is;  you  must  be  very  happy  together, 
your  mutual  affection  is  very  ^charming,  Mr.  Dodd; 
but  sometimes  it  almost  makes  me  sad — forgive  me!  I 
have  no  brother." 


LOV-E  ME  LONG  129 

"You  will  never  want  one  to  love  you,  a  thousand 
times  better  than  a  brother  can  love." 

"  Oh,  sha'n't  I  ?"  said  the  lady,  and  opened  her  eyes. 

"No;  and  there  is  more  than  one  that  worships  the 
ground  you  tread  on  at  this  moment — ^but  you  know 
that." 

"  Oh,  do  I  .^"  she  opened  her  eyes  still  wider. 

David  longed  to  tell  her  how  he  loved  her,  but  he 
dared  not;  he  looked  wistfully  at  her  face — it  was  quite 
calm,  and  had  suddenly  become  a  little  reserved.  He 
felt  he  was  on  new  and  dangerous  ground ;  he  sighed  and 
was  silent.  He  turned  away  his  face.  When  this 
involuntary  sigh  broke  from  him  she  turned  her  head  a 
little  and  looked  at  him.  He  felt  her  eye  dwell  on  him 
and  his  cheeks  burned  under  it. 

The  next  moment  they  were  at  Font  Hill,  and  Lucy 
seemed  to  David  to  hesitate  whether  to  give  him  her 
hand  at  parting  or  not. 

She  did  give  him  her  hand,  though  not  so  freely, 
David  thought,  as  she  had  done  on  his  own  little  lawn 
three  hours  before;  and  this  dashed  his  spirits.  It 
seemed  to  him  a  step  lost,  and  he  had  hoped  to  gain  a 
step  somehow  by  walking  home  with  her.  He  felt  like 
one  who  has  undertaken  to  catch  some  skittish  timorous 
thing  that,  if  you  stand  still,  will  come  within  a  certain 
small  but  safe  distance,  but  you  must  not  move  a  step 
toward  it,  or  whirr,  away  it  is.  He  went  slowly  home — 
his  heart  warm  and  cold  by  turns;  warm  when  he 
remembered  the  sweet  hours  he  had  just  spent,  and  her 
sweet  looks,  and  heavenly  tones,  every  one  of  which  he 
saw  and  heard  again;  cold  when  he  thought  of  the 
social  distance  that  separated  them  and  the  hundred 
chances  to    one  against  his  love.     Then    he  said   to 


130  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

himself,  *'Time  was  I  thought  I  could  never  bring  a 
yard  down  from  the  fore-top  to  the  deck,  but  I  mas- 
tered that.  Time  was  I  thought  I  could  never  work 
out  a  logarithm  without  a  formula,  but  I  mastered  that. 
Time  was  the  fiddle  beat  me  so,  I  was  ready  to  cry  over 
it,  but  at  last  I  learned  to  make  it  sing,  and  now  I  can 
make  her  smile  with  it  (God  bless  her),  instead  of 
stopping  her  ears.  I  can  hardly  mind  the  thing  that 
didn't  beat  me  dead  for  a  long  while,  but  I  persevered 
and  got  the  upper  hand.  Ay,  but  this  is  higher  and 
harder  than  them  all,  a  hundred  times  harder  and 
higher. 

*'I'll  hold  my  course,  let  the  wind  blow  high  or  low; 
and  if  I  can't  overhaul  the  wish  of  my  heart,  well,  I'll 
carry  her  flag  to  the  last.  I'll  die  a  bachelor  for  her 
sake,  as  sure  as  you  are  the  moon,  my  lass,  and  you  the 
Pole  Star,  and  from  this  hour  I'll  never  look  at  you,  but 
I'll  make  believe  it  is  her  I  am  looking  up  at;  for  she 
is  as  high  above  me,  and  as  bright  as  you  are.  God 
bless  her!  and  to  think  I  never  even  said  good-night  to 
her.  I  stood  there  like  a  mummy."  And  David 
reproached  himself  for  his  unkindness. 

Lucy  on  entering  the  drawing-room  was  surprised  to 
find  it  blazing  with  candles,  but  she  was  more  surprised 
at  what  she  saw  seated  calmly  in  an  arm-chair — Mrs. 
Bazalgette.  Lucy  stood  transfixed,  the  audacious  in- 
truder laughed  at  her  astonishment;  the  next  moment 
they  intertwined  and  fell  to  kissing  one  another  with 
tender  violence. 

'*  Well,  love,  the  fact  is  I  was  passing  here  on  my  way 
home  from  Devonshire,  and  I  wanted  particularly  to 
speak  to  you,  so  I  thought  I  would  venture  just  to  pop 


LOVE  ME  LONG  131 

in  for  a  passing  call,  and,  lo!  I  find  the  old  ogre  is  absent 
and  not  expected  back  for  ever  so  long,  so  I  have  in- 
stalled myself  at  his  Font  Abbey,  partly  out  of  love  for 
you,  dear,  partly,  I  confess  it,  out  of  hate  to  him.  You 
will  write  and  tell  me  his  face  when  he  comes  home  and 
hears  I  have  been  living  and  enjoying  myself  in  his  den. 
I  ordered  my  imperial  into  his  bedroom.  I  took  for 
granted  that  would  be  the  only  comfortable  one  in  his 
house." 

"Aunt  Bazalgette!"  cried  Lucy,  turning  pale;  ** oh, 
aunt,  what  will  become  of  us!" 

"Don't  be  frightened;  the  grey-haired  monster,  that 
dyes  his  whiskers  and  gets  him  up  to  look  only  forty, 
interposed  and  forbade  the  consecration." 

'*I  am  glad  of  it;  you  shall  sleep  in  mine,  dear,  and  I 
will  go  into  the  East-room.     It  is  a  sweet  little  room." 

"  Is  it;  then  why  not  put  me  there  ?" 

Lucy  coloured  a  little.  "I  think  mine  would  suit 
you  better,  dear,  because  it  is  larger  and  airier,  and " 

"I  see.  As  you  please,  you  know  I  never  make 
difficulties." 

"And  how  long  have  you  been  here,  aunt  .^" 

"About  three   hours." 

"Three  hours,  and  not  send  for  me!  I  was  only  in  the 
village.     Did  no  one  tell  you.^" 

"Yes,  but  you  know  it  is  not  my  way  to  make  a  fuss 
and  put  people  out.  How  could  I  tell  ?  You  might  be 
agreeably  employed,  and  I  was  sure  of  you  before 
bedtime." 

Mighty  fine !  but  the  truth  is  she  came  to  Font  Abbey 
to  pry.  She  had  heard  a  vague  report  about  Lucy  and 
a  gentleman. 

She  was  very  glad  to  find  Lucy  was  out  —  it  gave  her 


132  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

an  opportunity.  She  sent  for  Lucy's  maid  to  help  her 
unpack  a  dress  or  two — thirteen.  This  girl  was  paid 
out  of  Lucy's  estate,  but  did  not  know  that.  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  handed  her  her  wages,  and  that  gives  an 
influence.  The  wily  matron  did  not  trust  to  that  alone. 
In  unpacking  she  gave  the  girl  a  dress  and  several 
smaller  presents,  and,  this  done,  slowly  and  cautiously 
pumped  her.  Jane,  to  fulfil  her  share  of  a  bargain, 
which,  though  never  once  alluded  to,  was  perfectly 
understood  between  both  the  parties,  told  her  all  she 
knew  and  all  she  conjectured,  told  her  in  particular 
how  constantly  Mr.  Talboys  was  in  the  house,  and  how 
one  night  the  old  gentleman  had  walked  part  of  the  way 
home  with  him,  "which,  Mr.  Thomas  says,  he  didn't 
think  his  master  would  do  it  for  the  king,  mum!"  and 
had  come  in  all  a  flurry  and  sent  up  for  miss,  and  swore* 
awful  when  she  could  n't  come  because  she  was  abed. 
*'So  you  may  depend,  mum,  it  is  so;  leastways,  the 
gentlemen,  they  are  willing.  We  talk  it  over  mostly 
every  day  in  the  servants'  hall,  mum,  and  we  are  all  of  a 
mind  so  fur;  but  whether  it  will  come  to  a  wedding  that 
we  haven't  a  settled  yet:  it's  miss  beats  us  —  she  is  like 
no  other  young  lady  ever  I  came  a  nigh.  A  man  or  a 
woman  it  is  all  the  same  to  her,  a  kind  word  for  every- 
body and  pass  on;  but  I  do  really  think  she  likes  her 
own  side  of  the  house  a  trifle  the  best." 

*'And  there  you  don't  agree  with  her,  Jane?" 
"Well,  mum  —  being  as  we  are  alone  —  now  is  it 
natural  ?  But  Mr.  Thomas  he  says,  'the  cold  ones  take 
the  first  offer  that  comes  when  there  is  money  ahind  it. 
It  is  n't  us  they  wants,'  says  he.  I  told  him  I  should 
think  not  the  likes  of  him,  'but  our  house  and  land,'  says 

*  The  ladies  of  the  bedchamber  will  embellish.    After  all  it  is  their  business. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  133 

he,  'and  hopera  box  and  cetera.'  *But  I  don't  think  that 
of  our  one,'  says  I,  *bless  you,  she  is  too  high-minded.' 
But  what  I  think,  mum,  is  she  would  n't  say  'no'  to  her 
uncle  —  her  mouth  don't  seem  made  for  saying  no, 
especially  to  him;  and  he  is  bent  on  Talboys,  mum,  you 
take  my  word." 

To  return  to  the  drawing-room,  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
after  the  above  delicate  discussion  sat  there  in  ambush, 
knowing  more  of  Lucy's  affairs  than  Lucy  knew.  Her 
next  point  was  to  learn  Lucy's  sentiments,  and  to  find 
whether  she  was  deliberately  playing  false  and  breaking 
her  promise,  vide  p.  19. 

"Well,  Lucy,  any  lovers  yet.^" 

"No,  aunt." 

"Take  care,  Lucy,  a  little  bird  whispers  in  my  ear." 

"Then  it  is  a  humming-bird,"  and  Lucy  pouted. 
"Now,  aunt,  did  you  really  come  to  Font  Abbey  to  tease 
me  about  such  nonsense  as  —  as  —  gentlemen.?"  and 
Lucy  looked  hurt. 

"Here 's  an  actress  for  you,"  thought  Mrs.  Bazalgette; 
but  she  calmly  dropped  the  subject,  and  never  recurred 
to  it  openly  all  the  evening,  but  lay  secretly  in  watch,  and 
put  many  subtle  but  seeming  innocent  questions  to  her 
niece  about  her  habits,  her  uncle's  guest,  whether  her 
uncle  kept  a  horse  for  her,  whether  he  bought  it  for  her  ? 
&c.,    &c. 

The  next  morning  Mrs.  Bazalgette  breakfasted  in 
bed,  during  which  process  she  rang  her  bell  seven  times. 
Lucy  received  at  the  breakfast-table  a  letter  from  her 
uncle. 

"My  dear  Niece — The  funeral  was  yesterday,  and  I  flatter  myself  well 
performed — there  were  five-and-twenty  carriages.  After  that  a  luncheon 
in  the  right  style,  and  then  to  the  reading  of  the  will.     And  here  I  shall 


134  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

surprise  you,  but  not  more  than  I  was  myself:  I  am  left  £5000  consols. 
My  worthy  friend,  whose  loss  we  are  called  on  so  suddenly  to  deplore, 
accompanied  this  bequest  in  his  will  with  many  friendly  expressions  of 
esteem,  which  I  have  always  studied  and  shall  study  to  deserve.  He 
bequeathed  to  me  also,  during  minority,  the  care  of  his  boy,  the  heir  to  this 
fine  property  which  far  exceeds  the  value  I  had  imagined.  There  is  a 
letter  attached  to  the  will;  in  compliance  with  it  Arthur  is  to  go  to  Cam- 
bridge, but  not  until  he  has  been  well  prepared.  He  will  therefore  accom- 
pany me  to  Font  Abbey  to-morrow,  and  I  must  contrive  somehow  or  other 
to  find  him  a  mathematical  tutor  in  the  neighbourhood.  There  is  a  hand- 
some allowance  made  out  of  the  estate  for  his  board,  &c.,  &c. 

"He  is  an  interesting  boy,  and  has  none  of  the  rudeness  and  mis- 
chievousness  they  generally  have.  Blue  eyes,  soft,  silky,  flaxen  hair,  and 
as  modest  as  a  girl.  .  His  orphaned  state  merits  kindness,  and  his  prospects 
entitle  him  to  consideration.  I  mention  this  because  I  fancy  when  we  last 
discussed  this  matter  I  saw  a  little  disposition  on  your  part  to  be  satirical 
at  the  poor  boy's  expense.  I  am  sure,  however,  that  you  will  restrain  this 
feeling  at  my  request,  and  treat  him  like  a  younger  brother.  I  only  wish 
he  was  three  or  four  years  older — ^you  understand  me,  miss. 

"To-morrow  afternoon,  then,  we  shall  be  at  Font  Abbey.  Let  him 
have  the  East-room  and  tell  Brown  to  light  a  blazing  fire  in  my  bedroom, 
and  warm  and  air  every  mortal  thing,  on  pain  of  death — Your  affectionate 
uncle,  John  Fountain.'* 

On  reading  this  letter  Lucy  formed  an  innocent 
scheme.  It  had  long  been  matter  of  regret  to  her  that 
Aunt  Bazalgette  could  not  see  the  good  qualities  of 
Uncle  Fountain,  and  Uncle  Fountain  of  Aunt  Bazal- 
gette. "It  must  be  mere  prejudice,"  said  she,  **or  why 
do  I  love  them  both .?"  She  had  often  wished  she  could 
bring  them  together,  and  make  them  know  one  another 
better;  they  would  find  out  one  another's  good  qualities 
then,  and  be  friends.  But  how  ?  As  Shakespeare  says, 
"Oxen  and  wain  ropes  would  not  haul  them  together." 

At  last  chance  aided  her.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  at 
Font  Abbey,  actually.    Lucy  knew  that  if  she  announced 


LOVE  ME  LONG  135 

Mr.  Fountain's  expected  return  the  B  would  fly  off 
that  minute;  so  she  suppressed  the  information,  and, 
giving  up  to  young  Arthur  as  she  had  to  Mrs.  B., 
moved  into  a  still  smaller  room  than  the  East-room. 

And  now  her  heart  quaked  a  little.  "But  after  all 
Uncle  Fountain  is  a  gentleman,"  thought  she,  "and  not 
capable  of  showing  hostihty  to  her  under  his  own  roof. 
Here  she  is  safe,  though  nowhere  else;  only  I  must  see 
him,  and  explain  to  him  before  he  sees  her."  With 
this  view  Lucy  declined  demurely  her  aunt's  proposal 
for  a  walk.  No,  she  must  be  excused;  she  had  work 
to  do  in  the  drawing-room  that  could  not  be  postponed. 

"  Work !  that  alters  the  case :  let  me  see  it."  She  took 
for  granted  it  was  some  useful  work,  something  that 
could  be  worn  when  done.  "What,  is  this  it.?  these 
dirty  parchments.  Oh!  I  see,  it  is  for  that  selfish  old 
man;  who  but  he  would  set  a  lady  to  parchments  .?" 

"A  bad  guess ! "  cried  Lucy  joyously;  "  I  found  them 
myself,  and  set  to  work  on  them." 

"Don't  tell  me!  He  is  at  the  bottom  of  it.  If  it 
was  for  yourself  you  would  give  it  up  directly.  How 
amusing  for  me  to  see  you  work  at  that!"  Lucy  rose, 
and  brought  her  the  new  novel.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  took 
it  and  sat  down  to  it;  but  she  could  not  fix  her  attention 
long  on  it.  Ladies,  whose  hearts  are  in  dress,  have 
no  taste  for  books,  however  frivolous;  can't  sit  them  for 
above  a  second  or  two.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  fidgeted  and 
fidgeted,  and  at  last  rose  and  left  the  room  book  in  hand. 
"How  unkind  I  am,"  said  Lucy  to  herself. 

She  was  sitting  sentinel  till  the  carriage  should 
arrive :  then  she  could  run  down  and  prepare  her  uncle 
for  his  innocent  and  accidental  visitor  —  it  would  not 
be  prudent  to  let  him  receive  the  information  from  a 


136  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

servant,  or  without  the  accompanying  explanation. 
This  it  was  that  made  her  so  unnaturally  firm,  when 
the  little  idle  B  pressed  her  to  waste  in  play  the  shining 
hours. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  went  book  in  hand  to  her  bedroom, 
and  she  had  not  been  there  long  before  she  found 
employment.  Many  of  Lucy's  things  were  still  in  the 
wardrobes.  Mrs.  B.  rummaged  them,  inspected  them 
at  the  window,  and  ended  by  ringing  for  her  maid  and 
trying  divers  of  her  niece's  dresses  on.  "They  make 
her  dresses  better  than  they  do  mine  —  they  take  more 
pains."  At  last  she  found  one  that  was  new  to  her, 
though  Lucy  had  worn  it  several  times  at  Font  Abbey. 

'*  Where  did  she  get  this,  Jane.^" 

"Present  from  the  old  gentleman,  mum;  he  had  it 
down  from  London  for  her  all  at  one  time  with  this 
shawl  and  twelve  puragloves." 

Lucy  looked  two  inches  taller  than  Mrs.  B.,  but 
somehow,  I  can't  tell  how,  this  dress  of  hers  fitted  the 
latter  like  a  glove.  It  embraced  her ;  it  held  her  tenderly 
but  tight,  as  gowns,  and  lovers,  should  —  the  poor 
dear  could  not  get  out  of  it.  **I  must  wear  it  an  hour 
or  two,"  said  she.  "Besides  it  will  save  my  own, 
knocking  about  in  these  country  lanes."  Thus  attired 
she  went  into  the  drawing-room  to  surprise  Lucy. 
Now  Lucy  was  determined  not  to  move;  so,  not  to  be 
enticed,  she  did  not  even  look  up  from  her  work;  on 
this  the  other  took  a  mild  huff  and  whisked  out. 

So  keen  are  the  feminine  senses  that  Lucy  on  reflec- 
tion recognised  something  brusque,  perhaps  angry,  in 
the  rustle  of  that  retiring  dress;  and  soon  after  rang 
the  bell  and  inquired  where  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was? 
John  would  make  henquiries. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  137 

*'Your  haunt  is  in  the  back  garden,  miss." 

"Walking?  or  what?" 

John  would  make  henquiries. 

''She  is  reading,  miss;  and  she  is  sitting  on  the  seat, 
master  'ad  made  for  you,  miss." 

"Very  well,  thank  you." 

"Any  more  commands,  miss?" 

"  Not  at  present."  John  retired  with  a  regretful  air, 
as  one  capable  of  executing  important  commissions, 
but  lost  for  lack  of  opportunity.  All  the  servants  in 
this  house  liked  to  come  into  contact  with  Lucy:  she 
treated  them  with  a  dignified  kindness  and  reserved 
politeness  that  wins  these  good  creatures  more  than 
either  arrogance  or  familiarity.  "Jeames  is  not  such 
a  fool  as  he  looks." 

Lucy  was  glad.  Her  aunt  had  got  her  book.  It  is 
an  interesting  story;  she  will  not  miss  me  now,  and  the 
carriage  will  soon  be  here,  and  then  I  will  make  up  for 
my  unkindness.  Curiously  enough  at  this  very  junc- 
ture, the  fair  student  found  something  in  her  parchment 
which  gave  her  some  little  hopes  of  a  favourable  result. 

She  was  following  this  clue  eagerly  when  all  of  a 
sudden  she  started.  Her  ear  had  caught  the  rattle  of  a 
carriage  over  the  stones  of  the  stable-yard  —  she  rang 
the  bell  and  inquired  if  that  was  not  the  carriage  ? 

"Yes,  miss." 

"  My  uncle  has  sent  it  back,  then.  He  is  not  coming 
to-day."     John  would  inquire  of  the  coachman. 

"  Oh  yes,  miss,  master  is  come;  but  he  got  out  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  and  walked  up  through  the  shrubbery 
with  the  young  gentleman  to  show  him  the  grounds." 
On  this  news  Lucy  rose  hastily,  snatched  up  a  garden- 
hat,  and  without  any  other  preparation  went  out  to 


138  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

intercept  her  uncle.  As  she  stepped  into  the  garden 
she  heard  a  loud  scream  followed  by  angry  voices: 
she  threw  her  hands  up  to  heaven  in  dismay,  and  ran 
toward  the  sounds.  They  came  from  the  back  garden. 
She  went  like  lightning  round  the  corner  of  the  house, 
and  came  plump  upon  an  agitated  group,  of  whom  she 
made  one  directly,  spellbound.  Here  stood  Aunt 
Bazalgette,  her  head  turned  haughtily,  her  cheeks 
scarlet.  There  stood  Mr.  Fountain  on  the  other  side 
of  the  rustic  seat,  red  as  fire,  too,  but  wearing  a  hang- 
dog look;  and  behind  him  young  Arthur,  pale,  with 
two  eyes  like  saucers,  gazing  awe-struck  at  the  first 
row  he  had  ever  seen  between  a  full-grown  lady  and 
gentleman. 

Our  narrative  must  take  a  step  to  the  rear,  as  an 

excellent  writer.   Private ,*  phrases  it;  otherwise 

you  might  be  misled  to  suppose  that  Uncle  Fountain 
was  quarrelling  with  Mrs.  B.  for  having  set  her  foot  in 
sacred  Font  Abbey. 

No ;  the  pudding  was  richer  than  that.  Mr.  Fountain 
had  young  Arthur  in  charge;  and,  not  being  an  ill- 
natured  old  gentleman,  he  pitied  the  boy  and  did  all 
he  could  to  make  him  feel  he  was  coming  among 
friends.  He  sent  the  carriage  on  and  showed  Arthur 
the  grounds,  and  covertly  praised  the  place  and  all 
about  it,  Lucy  included,  for  was  not  she  an  appendage 
of  his  abbey.?  "You  will  see  my  niece,  a  charming 
young  lady,  who  will  be  kind  to  you,  and  you  must 
make  friends  with  her;  she  is  very  accomplished  — 
paints.  She  plays  like  an  angel,  too.  Ah!  there  she 
is  ---  she  has  got  the  gown  on  I  gave  her;  a  comphment 

*  "I  had  an  escape  myself.  As  I  opened  the  door  of  a  house  a  black  fellow  was  behind 
waiting  for  me,  and  made  a  chop.  I  took  a  step  to  the  rear,  fired  through  the  door,  an4, 
cooked  his  goose." — Times. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  ISd 

to  me,  a  very  pretty  attention,  Arthur,  the  day  of  my 
return.     What  is  she  doing?" 

Arthur  with  his  young  eyes  settled  this  question: 
**The  lady  is  asleep  —  see,  she  has  dropped  her  book." 
And  in  fact  the  whole  attitude  was  lax,  and  not  ungrace- 
ful. Her  right  hand  hung  down,  and  the  domestic 
story,  its  duty  done,  reposed  beneath. 

''Now,  Arthur,"  said  the  senior,  making  himself 
young  to  please  the  boy,  and  to  show  him  that  if  he 
looked  old  he  was  not  worn  out,  *' would  you  hke  a  bit 
of  fun  ?  we  will  startle  her  —  we  '11  give  her  a  kiss."  ( 
Arthur  hung  back  irresolute,  and  his  cheeks  were  dyed 
with  blushes. 

*'Not  you,  you  young  rogue;  you  are  not  her  uncle." 
The  old  gentleman  then  stole  up  at  the  back  of  the  seat, 
followed  with  respectful  curiosity  by  Arthur;  she 
happened  to  move  as  the  senior  got  near,  so  for  fear 
she  was  going  to  wake  of  herself  and  baffle  the  surprise, 
he  made  a  rush  and  rubbed  his  beard  a  little  roughly 
against  Mrs.  Bazalgette's  cheek.  Up  starts  that  lady,  f 
who  was  not  fast  asleep,  but  only  under  the  influence 
of  the  domestic  tale,  utters  a  scream,  and  when  she  sees 
her  ravisher,  goes  into  a  passion. 

"How  dare  you.^  What  is  the  meaning  of  this 
insult.?" 

"How  came  you  here .?"  was  the  reply  in  an  equally 
angry  tone. 

"  Can't  a  lady  come  into  your  little  misery  of  a  gar- 
den without  being  outraged?" 

"It  is  n't  the  garden,  it  is  only  the  back  garden," 
cried  the  proprietor  of  Font  Abbey  (blesse).  I  '11 
swear  that  is  my  niece's  gown  —  so  you've  invaded 
that  too." 


140  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Aunt  Bazalgette  —  Uncle  Fountain,  it  was  my 
fault,"  sighed  a  piteous  voice;  this  was  Lucy,  who  had 
just  come  on  the  scene.  "Dear  uncle,  forgive  me,  it 
was  I  who  invited  her." 

Lucy's  pathetic  tones,  which  were  fast  degenerating 
into  sobs,  were  agreeably  interrupted. 

At  one  and  the  same  moment  the  man  and  woman 
of  the  world  took  a  new  view  of  the  situation,  looked 
at  one  another  and  burst  out  laughing.  Both  these 
carried  a  safety-valve  against  choler,  a  trait  that  takes 
us  into  many  follies,  but  keeps  us  out  of  others  —  a 
sense  of  humour.  The  next  thing  to  relieve  the  situa- 
tion was  the  senior's  comprehensive  vanity.  He  must 
recover  young  Arthur's  reverence,  which  was  doubtless 
dissolving  all  this  time.  "  Now,  Arthur,"  he  whispered, 
"take  a  lesson  from  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school! 
I  hate  this  she-devil ;  but  this  is  my  house,  so  —  ob- 
serve!" He  then  strutted  jauntily  and  feebly  up  to 
Mrs.  Bazalgette,  "Madam,  my  niece  says  you  are  her 
guest;  but  permit  me  to  dispute  her  title  to  that  honour." 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  smiled  agreeably.  She  wanted  to  stay 
a  day  or  two  at  Font  Abbey.  The  senior  flourished 
out  his  arm.  Let  me  show  you  what  we  call  the  garden 
here."  She  took  his  arm  graciously.  "I  shall  be 
delighted,  sir:  [pompous  old  fool!"] 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  steeled  her  mind  to  admire  the 
garden,  and  would  have  done  so  with  ease  if  it  had  been 
hideous.  But  unfortunately  it  was  pretty,  prettier  than 
her  own;  had  grassy  slopes,  a  fountain,  a  grotto,  varie- 
gated beds,  and  beds  a  blaze  of  one  colour  (a  fashion 
not  common  at  that  time),  item,  a  brook  with  water 
lilies  on  its  bosom.  "This  brook  is  not  mine,  strictly 
speaking,"  said  her  host,  "I  borrowed  it  of  my  neigh- 


LOVE  ME  LONG  141 

bour."  The  lady  opened  her  eyes:  so  he  grinned,  and 
revealed  a  characteristic  transaction.  A  quarter  of 
a  century  ago  he  had  found  the  brook  flowing  through 
a  meadow  close  to  his  garden  hedge.  He  appHed  for 
a  lease  of  the  meadow,  and  was  refused  by  the  proprietor 
in  the  following  terms,  *'What  is  to  become  of  my 
cows  ?"  He  applied  constantly  for  ten  years,  and  met 
the  same  answer.  Proprietor  died,  the  cows  turned  to 
ox-beef,  and  were  eaten  in  London  along  with  flour 
and  a  little  turmeric,  and  washed  down  with  Spanish 
liquorice,  water,  salt,  gentian,  and  a  little  burnt  malt. 
Widow  inherited,  made  hay,  and  refused  F.  the  meadow, 
because  her  husband  had  always  refused  him;  but 
in  the  tenth  year  of  her  siege  she  assented,  for  the  fol- 
lowing reasons:  primo,  she  had  said  "no"  so  often 
the  word  gave  her  a  sense  of  fatigue :  secundo,  she  liked 
variety,  and  thought  a  change  for  the  worse  must  be 
better  than  no  change  at  all. 

Her  tenant  instantly  cut  a  channel  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  stream  into  his  garden,  and  brought  the 
brook  into  the  lawn ;  made  it  write  an  S  upon  his  turf, 
then  handed  it  out  again  into  the  meadow  **none  the 
worse,"  his  own  comment.  These  things  could  be 
done  in  the  country  —  jadis. 

It  cost  Mrs.  Bazalgette  a  struggle  to  admire  the 
garden,  and  borrowed  stream;  they  were  so  pretty. 
She  made  the  struggle  and  praised  all.  Lucy  * 
walking  behind  the  pair  watched  them  with  inno- 
cent satisfaction.  "How  fast  they  are  making 
friends,"  thought  she,  mistaking  an  armistice  for 
an  alliance. 

"Since  the  place  is  so  fortunate  as  to  please  you, 
you  will  stay  a  week  with  me,  madam,  at  least." 


142  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

*'A  week!  No,  Mr.  Fountain,  I  really  admire  your 
courtesy  too  much  to  abuse  it." 

"Not  at  all;  you  will  oblige  me." 

**I  cannot  bring  myself  to  think  so." 

"You  may  believe  me.     I  have  a  selfish  motive." 

"Oh,  if  you  are  in  earnest." 

"I  will  explain.  If  you  are  my  guest  for  a  week 
that  will  give  me  a  claim  to  be  yours  in  turn";  and 
he  bent  a  keen  look  upon  the  lady  as  much  as  to  say  — 
"Now  I  shall  see  whether  you  dare  let  me  spy  on  you 
as  you  are  doing  on  me." 

"I  propose  an  amendment,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette, 
with  a  merry  air  of  defiance;  "for  every  day  I  enjoy 
here,  you  must  spend  two  beneath  my  roof;  on  this  con- 
dition I  will  stay  a  week  at  Font  Abbey." 

"I  consent,"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  a  little  sharply; 
he  liked  the  bargain.  "I  must  leave  you  to  Lucy  for 
a  minute.  I  have  some  orders  to  give:  I  like  my  guests 
to  be  comfortable." 

With  this  he  retired  to  his  study  and  pondered. 
"What  is  she  here  for.?  it  is  not  affection  for  Lucy: 
that  is  all  my  eye,  a  selfish  toad  like  her.  (How  agree- 
able she  can  make  herself,  though.)  She  heard  I  was 
out  and  came  here  to  spy  directly.  That  was  sharp 
practice.  Better  not  give  her  a  chance  of  seeing  my 
game.  I  disarmed  her  suspicion  by  asking  her  to  stay 
a  week,  aha!  Well,  during  that  week  Talboys  must 
not  come,  that  is  all.  Aha,  my  lady,  I  won't  give 
those  cunning  eyes  of  yours  a  chance  of  looking  over 
my  hand."  He  then  wrote  a  note  to  Talboys  telling 
him  there  was  a  guest  at  Font  Abbey,  a  disagreeable 
woman  "who  makes  mischief  whenever  she  can.  She 
would  be  sure  to  divine  our  intentions,  and  use  all  her 


LOVE  ME  LONG  143 

influence  with  Lucy  to  spite  me.  You  had  better  stay 
away  till  she  is  gone."  He  sent  this  off  by  a  servant, 
then  pondered  again. 

"She  suspects  something;  then  that  is  a  sign  she  has 
her  own  designs  on  Lucy.  Hum!  No.  if  she  had 
she  would  not  have  invited  me  to  her  house.  She 
invited  me  directly  and  cheerfully  — hum!" 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  walked  and  sat  with  an  arm  round 
Lucy's  waist,  and  told  her  seven  times  before  dinner 
how  happy  she  was  at  the  prospect  of  a  quiet  week  with 
her.  In  the  evening  she  yawned  eleven  times.  Next 
day  she  asked  Lucy  who  was  coming  to  dinner  ? 

"Nobody,  dear." 

"Nobody  at  all.?" 

"  I  thought  you  would  perhaps  not  care  to  have  our 
tete-a-tete  interrupted  yet." 

"Oh!  but  I  should  hke  to  explore  the  natives  too." 

"  I  will  give  uncle  a  hint,  dear."  The  hint  was  given 
very  dehcately,  but  the  malicious  senior  had  a  perverse 
construction  ready  immediately.  So  this  is  her  mighty 
affection  for  you;  can't  get  through  two  days  without 
strangers.  "Uncle,"  said  Lucy  imploringly,  "she  is 
so  used  to  society,  and  she  has  me  all  day.  We  ought 
to  give  her  some  little  amusement  at  night." 

"  Well,  I  can't  make  up  parties  now  —  my  friends  are 
all  in  London.  She  only  wants  something  to  flirt  with. 
Send  for  David  Dodd." 

"What,  for  her  to  flirt  with.?" 

"  Yes,  he  is  a  handsome  fellow, he  will  serve  her  turn." 

"For  shame,  uncle;  what  would  Mr.  Bazalgette 
say  ?     Poor  aunt,  she  is  a  coquette  now." 

"And  has  been  this  twenty  years." 


144  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

*'Now,  I  was  thinking— Mr.  Talboys?" 

"Talboys  is  not  at  home;  she  must  be  content  with 
lower  game.     She  shall  bring  down  David." 

Lucy  hesitated.  "I  don't  think  she  will  like  Mr. 
Dodd;  and  I  am  sure  he  will  not  like  her." 

"How  can  you  know  that.^" 

"He  is  so  honest.  He  will  not  understand  a  woman 
of  the  world  and  her  little  in — sin — no,  I  don't  mean  that . ' ' 

"Well,  if  he  does  not  understand  her,  he  may  like 
her." 

"Aunt,  he  has  made  me  ask  the  Dodds  to  tea,  and 
I  am  afraid  you  will  not  like  them." 

"Well,  if  I  don't,  we  must  try  some  more  natives  to- 
morrow. Who  are  they.'^"  Lucy  told  her.  "Pretty 
people  to  ask  to  meet  me,"  said  she  loftily.  This  scorn 
dissolved  in  course  of  the  evening.  Lucy,  anxious  her 
guests  should  be  pleased  with  one  another,  drew  the 
Dodds  out,  especially  David;  made  him  spin  a  yarn. 
With  this  and  his  good  looks  he  so  pleased  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette  that  it  was  the  last  yarn  he  ever  span  during  her 
stay:  she  took  a  fancy  to  him,  and  set  herself  to  capti- 
vate him  with  sprightly  ardour. 

David  received  her  advances  politely,  but  a  little 
coldly;  the  lady  was  very  agreeable,  but  she  kept  him 
from  Lucy.  He  hardly  got  three  words  with  her  all 
the  evening.  As  they  went  home  together  Eve  sneered. 
"Well,  you  itaanaged  nicely;  it  was  your  business  to 
make  friends  with  that  lady." 

"With  all  my  heart." 

"Then  why  didn't  you  do  what  she  bid  you.?" 

"She  gave  me  no  orders  that  I  heard,"  said  the 
literal  first  mate. 


I.OVE  ME  LONG  145 

"She  gave  you  a  plain  hint,  though." 

''To  do  what?" 

"To  do  what,  stupid?  why,  to  make  love  to  her,  to 
be  sure." 

"Why,  she  is  a  married  woman." 

"If  she  chooses  to  forget  that,  is  it  your  business  to 
remember  it?" 

"And  if  she  was  single,  and  the  loveliest  in  the  world, 
how  could  I  court  her  when  my  heart  is  full  of  an 
angel?" 

"If  your  heart  is  full,  your  head  is  empty — why,  you 
see  nothing." 

"I  can't  see  why  I  should  belie  my  heart." 

"Can't  you?  Then  I  can.  David,  in  less  than  a 
month  Miss  Fountain  goes  to  this  lady  and  stays  a 
quarter  of  a  year  —  she  told  me  so  herself.  Oh,  my 
ears  are  always  open  in  your  service,  ever  since  I  did 
agree  to  be  as  great  a  fool  as  you  are.  Now,  don't  you 
see  that  if  you  can't  get  Mrs.  Bazalgette  to  invite  you 
to  her  house,  you  must  take  leave  of  the  other  here  for 
ever." 

"I  see  what  you  mean.  Eve,  how  wise  you  are. 
It  is  wonderful.  But,  what  is  to  be  done  ?  I  am  bad 
at  feigning.     I  can't  make  love  to  her." 

"But  you  can  let  her  make  love  to  you  —  is  that  an 
effort  you  feel  equal  to  ?  and  I  must  do  the  rest.  Oh, 
we  have  a  nice  undertaking  before  us.  But  if  boys 
will  cry  for  fruit  that  is  out  of  their  reach,  and  their 
silly  sisters  will  indulge  them  —  don't  slobber  m^." 

"You  are  such  a  dear  girl,  to  fight  for  me  so,  a  little 
against  your  judgment." 

"A  little,  eh?  Dead  against,  it,  you  mean.  Don't 
look  so  blank,  David;  you  are  all  right  as  far  as  me: 


146  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

when  my  heart  is  on  your  side,  you  can  snap  your  fingers 
at  my  judgment." 

David  was  cheered  by  this  gracious  revelation. 

Eve  was  a  tormenting  little  imp.  She  could  not 
help  reminding  him  every  now  and  then  that  all  her 
manoeuvres  and  all  his  love  were  to  end  in  disappoint- 
ment. 

These  discouraging  comments  had  dashed  poor 
David's  spirits  more  than  once;  but  he  was  beginning 
to  discover  that  they  were  invariably  accompanied  or 
followed  by  an  access  of  cheerful  zeal  in  the  desperate 
cause  —  a  pleasing  phenomenon,  though  somewhat 
unintelligible  to  this  honest  fellow,  who  had  never 
microscoped  the  enigmatical  sex. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  reproached  Lucy:  "You  never 
told  me  how  handsome  Mr.  Dodd  was!" 

"Did  n't  I.?" 

"No!     He  is  the  handsomest  man  I  ever  saw." 

"I  have  not  observed  that,  but  I  think  he  is  one  of 
the  worthiest." 

"I  should  not  wonder,"  said  the  other  lady  care- 
lessly. "It  is  clear  you  don't  appreciate  him  here. 
You  half  apologised  to  me  for  inviting  him." 

"That  was  because  you  are  such  a  fashionable  lady, 
and  the  Dodds  have  no  such  pretensions." 

"All  the  better,  my  taste  is  not  for  sophisticated 
people;  I  only  put  up  with  them  because  I  am  obliged. 
Why,  Lucy,  you  ought  to  know  how  my  heart  yearns 
for  nature  and  truth ;  I  am  sure  I  have  told  you  so  often 
enough.  An  hour  spent  with  a  simple,  natural  creature, 
like  Captain  Dodd,  refreshes  me  as  a  cooling  breeze 
after  the  heat  and  odours  of  a  crowded  room." 

" Miss  Dodd  is  very  natural  too;  is  she  not .?" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  147 

*'Very.  Pertness  and  vulgarity  are  natural  enough 
— to  some  people." 

''  My  uncle  likes  her  the  best  of  the  two." 

**Then  your  uncle  is  mad.  But  the  fact  is  men 
are  no  judges  in  such  cases;  they  are  always  unjust 
to  their  own  sex,  and  as  blind  to  the  faults  of  ours 
as  beetles." 

'*  But  surely,  aunt,  she  is  very  arch  and  lively." 

"Pert  and  fussy,  you  mean." 

"Pretty,  at  all  events  .?  — Rather .?" 

"What,  with  that  snub  nose!!?" 

Lucy  offered  to  invite  other  neighbours.  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette  replied  she  didn't  want  to  be  bothered  with 
rurality.  "You  can  ask  Captain  Dodd  if  you  like; 
there  is  no  need  to  invite  the  sister." 

"  Oh  yes,  I  must;  my  uncle  likes  her  the  best." 

"But  I  don't;  and  I  am  only  here  for  a  day  or  two." 

"  Miss  Dodd  would  be  hurt.  It  would  be  unkind, 
discourteous." 

"No,  no.  She  watches  him  all  the  time  like  a  little 
dragon." 

^^  A'pres?  We  have  no  sinister  designs  on  Mr.  Dodd, 
have  we  ?"  and  something  unusually  keen  flashed  upon 
Aunt  Bazalgette  out  of  the  tail  of  the  quiet  Lucy's  eye. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  looked  cross.  "Nonsense,  Lucy; 
so  tiresome!  Can't  we  have  an  agreeable  person  with- 
out tacking  on  a  disagreeable  one.?" 

"Aunt,"  said  Lucy  pathetically,  "ask  me  anything 
else  in  the  world;  but  don't  ask  me  to  be  rude — for  / 
canHr 

"Well  then,  you  are  bound  to  entertain  her  since  she 
is  your  choice;  and  leave  me  mine." 

Lucy  acquiesced  softly. 


148  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

David,  tutored  by  his  sister,  now  tried  to  seem  inter- 
ested in  ^er  who  came  between  him  and  Lucy;  and  a 
miserable  hand  he  made  of  this  his  first  piece  of  acting. 
Luckily  for  him  Mrs.  Bazalgette  liked  the  sound  o^her 
own  voice;  and  his  good  looks,  too,  went  a  long  way 
with  the  mature  woman.  Lucy  and  Eve  sat  together 
at  the  tea-table.  Mr.  Fountain  slumbered  below. 
Arthur  was  in  the  study  nailed  to  a  novel.  —  Eve,  under 
a  careless  exterior,  watched  intently  to  find  out  if  Lucy 
under  her  calm  surface  cared  for  David  at  all,  or  not, 
and  also  watched  for  a  chance  to  serve  him.  She 
observed  a  certain  languor  about  the  young  lady;  but  no 
attempt  to  take  David  from  the  coquette.  At  last, 
however,  Lucy  did  say  demurely,  **Mr.  Dodd  seems  to 
appreciate  my  aunt." 

"Don't  you  think  it  is  rather  the  other  way?" 

"That  is  an  insidious  question,  Miss  Dodd.  I  shall 
made  no  admissions;  but  I  warn  you  she  is  a  very 
fascinating  woman." 

"  My  brother  is  greatly  admired  by  the  ladies,  too." 

"  Oh,  since  I  praised  my  champion,  you  have  a  right 
to  praise  yours.  But  he  will  get  the  worst  in  that  little 
encounter." 

"Why  so.?"       ^ 

"Because  my  sprightly  aunt  forgets  the  very  names 
of  her  conquests  when  once  she  has  thoroughly  made 
them." 

"She  will  never  make  this  one;  my  brother  carries 
an  armour  against  coquettes." 

"Ay,  indeed,  and  pray,  what  may  that  be?"  in- 
quired Lucy  a  little  quizzingly. 

"A  true  and  deep  attachment.'* 

"Ah!" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  149 

"And  if  you  look  at  him  a  little  closer,  you  will  see 
that  he  would  be  glad  to  get  away  from  that  old  flirt; 
but  David  is  very  polite  to  ladies." 

Lucy  stole  a  look  from  under  her  silken  lashes,  and 
it  so  happened  that  at  that  very  moment  she  encoun- 
tered a  sorrowful  glance  from  David  that  said  plainly 
enough,  I  am  obliged  to  be  here,  but  I  long  to  be  there. 
She  received  this  glance  full  in  her  eyes,  absorbed  it 
blandly,  then  lowered  her  lashes  a  moment;  then 
turned  her  head  with  a  sweet  smile  toward  Eve.  "I 
think  you  said  your  brother  was  engaged." 

"No." 

"I  misunderstood  you,  then." 

"Yes,"  Eve  uttered  this  monosyllable  so  drily  that 
Lucy  drew  back,  and  immediately  turned  the  conversa- 
tion into  chit-chat. 

It  had  not  trickled  above  ten  minutes  when  an  ex- 
clamation from  David  interrupted  it;  the  young  ladies 
turned  instinctively,  and  there  was  David  flushing  all 
over,  and  speaking  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette  with  a  tremulous 
warmth,  that,  addressed  as  it  was  to  a  pretty  woman, 
sounded  marvellously  like  love-making. 

Lucy  turned  her  crest  round  a  little  haughtily  and 
shot  such  a  glance  on  Eve.  Eve  read  in  it  a  com- 
pound of  triumph  and  pique. 

David  came  to  Eve  one  morning  with  parchments 
in  his  hand,  and  a  merry  smile.     "Eureka." 

"You're  another,"  said  Eve,  as  quick  as  lightning, 
and  upon  speculation. 

"I  have  made  Mr.  Fountain's  pedigree  out,"  ex- 
plained David. 

"You  don't  say  so;  won't  he  be  pleased!" 


150  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Yes.     Do  you  think  she  will  be  pleased  ?" 

**  Why  not  ?  She  will  look  pleased  any  way.  I  say, 
don't  you  go  and  tell  them  the  whole  country  was  owned 
by  the  Dodds  before  Fountain  or  Funteyn  or  Font  was 
ever  heard  of." 

"Hardly.  I  have  my  own  weaknesses,  my  lass. 
I  've  no  need  to  adopt  another  man's." 

"Bless  my  soul,  how  wise  you  are  got!  So  sudden, 
too!  You  should  n't  surprise  a  body  like  that.  Lucky 
I  'm  not  hysterical.  Now,  let  me  think,  David  — 
Solomon,  I  mean;  no,  you  shall  keep  this  discovery 
back  awhile  —  it  may  be  wanted."  She  then  reminded 
him  that  the  Fountains  were  capricious,  that  they  had 
dropped  him  for  a  week  and  might  again;  if  so  this 
might  be  useful  to  unlock  their  street  door  to  him  at 
need. 

"Good  heavens.  Eve;  what  cunning!" 

"David,  when  I  have  a  bad  cause  in  hand,  I  do  one 
of  two  things,  I  drop  it,  or  I  go  into  it  heart  and  soul. 
If  my  zeal  offends  you,  I  can  retire  from  the  contest 
with  great  pleasure." 

"No!  no!  no!  no!  no!  If  you  leave  the  helm  I  shall 
go  ashore  directly"  —  dismay  of  David:  grim  satisfac- 
tion of  his  imp. 

This  matter  settled,  David  asked  Eve  if  she  did  not 
think  Master  Nelson  (Mr.  Fountain's  new  ward)  was 
a  very  nice  boy. 

"Yes,  and  I  see  he  has  taken  a  wonderful  fancy 
to  you." 

"And  so  have  I  to  him;  we  have  had  one  or  two 
walks  together.  He  is  to  come  here  at  twelve  o'clock 
to-day." 

"  Now,  why  could  n't  you  have  asked  me  first,  David  ? 


LOVE  ME  LONG  151 

The  painters  are  coming  into  the  house  to-day,  and  the 
paperers  and  all;  and  we  can't  be  bothered  with 
mathematics.  You  must  do  them  at  Font  Abbey." 
Eve  was  a  httle  cross.  David  only  laughed  at  her; 
but  he  hesitated  about  making  a  schoolhouse  of  Font 
Abbey,   it  would  look  like  intruding. 

'*Pooh,  nonsense,"  said  Eve,  **they  will  only  be  too 
glad  to  take  advantage  of  your  good-nature." 

**He  is  an  orphan,"  said  David  doggedly. 

However,  the  lesson  was  given  at  Font  Abbey,  and, 
after  it.  Master  Nelson  came  bounding  into  the  drawing- 
room  to  the  ladies. 

"Oh,  Lucy,  Mr.  Dodd  is  such  a  beautiful  geometri- 
cian! He  has  been  giving  me  a  lesson;  he  is  going 
to  give  me  one  every  day.  He  knows  a  great  deal  more 
than  my  last  tutor."  On  this  Master  Nelson  was 
questioned,  and  revealed  that  a  friendship  existed 
between  him  and  Mr.  Dodd,  such  as  girls  are  incapable 
of  (this  was  levelled  at  Lucy);  being  cross-examined 
as  to  the  date  of  this  friendship,  he  was  obliged  to 
confess  that  it  had  only  existed  four  days,  but  was  to 
last  to  death. 

*'But,  Arthur,"  said  Lucy,  "will  not  this  take  up 
too  much  of  Mr.  Dodd's  time  ?  I  think  you  had  better 
consult  Uncle  Fountain  before  you  make  a  positive 
arrangement  of  the  kind." 

**Oh,  I  have  spoken  to  my  guardian  about  it,  and 
he  was  so  pleased.  He  said  that  would  save  him  a 
mathematical  tutor." 

"Oh,  then,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  "Mr.  Dodd  is  to 
teach  mathematics  gratis." 

"My  friend  is  a  gentleman,"  was  the  tumid  reply. 
(Juveniles    have    a    pomposity    all    their    own,    and 


15^  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

exquisitely  delicious).*  **We  read  together  because  we 
like  one  another,  and  that  is  why  we  walk  together  and 
play  together :  if  we  were  to  offer  him  money  he  would 
throw  it  at  our  heads."  Mr.  Arthur  then  relaxed  his 
severity,  and  condescending  once  more  to  the  familiar, 
added  —  **and  he  has  made  me  a  kite,  on  mathematical 
principles,  such  a  whacker  —  those  in  the  shops  are  no 
use;  and  he  has  sent  his  mother's  bathchair  on  to  the 
Downs,  and  he  is  going  to  show  me  the  kite  draw  him 
ten  knots  an  hour  in  it  —  a  knot  means  a  mile,  Lucy; 
so  I  can't  stay  wasting  my  time  here.  Only  if  you 
want  to  see  some  fun  for  once  in  your  lives,  come  on  the 
Downs  in  about  an  hour  —  will  you.?  Oh,  yes!  do 
come! 

**  Certainly  not,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette  sharply. 

**  Excuse  us,  dear,"  said  Lucy  in  the  same  breath. 

"Well,  Lucy,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  "am  I  wrong 
about  your  uncle's  selfishness  ?  I  have  tried  in  vain 
ever  since  I  came  here  to  make  you  see  it  where  you  were 
the  only  sufferer." 

"Not  quite  in  vain,  aunt,"  said  Lucy  sadly;  "you 
have  shown  me  defects  in  my  poor  uncle  that  I  should 
never  have  discovered." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  smiled  grimly. 

"Only  as  you  hate  him,  and  I  love  him,  and  always 
mean  to  love  him,  permit  me  to  call  his  defects  *thought- 
less-ness.'  You  can  apply  the  harsh  term  *selfish-ness* 
to  the  most  good-natured,  kind,  indulgent  —  oh!" 

"Ha!  ha!  Don't  cry,  you  silly  girl.  Thoughtless.? 
a  calculating  old  goose,  who  is  eternally  aiming  to  be  a 
fox  —  never  says  or  does  anything  without  meaning 
something  a  mile  off.     Luckily  his  veil  is  so  thin  that 

*  Read  the  Oxford  Essays. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  153 

everybody  sees  through  it  but  you.  ^Vhat  do  you 
think  of  his  thought-less-ness  in  getting  a  tutor  gratis  ? 
Poor  Mr.  Dodd!" 

"I  will  answer  for  it,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  Mr.  Dodd 
to  be  of  service  to  his  little  friend,"  said  Lucy  warmly. 

"How  do  you  know  a  bore  is  a  pleasure  to  Mr. 
Dodd.?" 

"  Mr.  Dodd  is  a  new  acquaintance  of  yours,  aunt,  but 
I  have  had  opportunities  of  observing  his  character; 
and,  I  assure  you,  all  this  pity  is  wasted." 

**  Why,  Lucy,  what  did  you  say  to  Arthur  just  now  ? 
You  are  contradicting  yourself'' 

**  What  a  love  of  opposition  I  must  have.  Are  you 
not  tired  of  in-doors  ?  Shall  we  go  into  the  village .?" 

"No!  I  exhausted  the  village  yesterday." 

"The  garden?" 

"No." 

"Well  then,  suppose  we  sketch  the  church  together. 
There  is  a  good  light." 

"No.     Let  us  go  on  the  Downs,  Lucy." 

"Why,  aunt,  it — ^it  is  a  long  walk." 

"All  the  better." 

"But  we  said  *No.'  " 

"What  has  that  to  do  with  it .?" 

Arthur  was  right ;  the  kites  that  are  sold  by  shops  of 
prey  are  not  proportioned  nor  balanced ;  that  is  probably 
in  some  way  connected  with  the  circumstance  that  they 
are  made  to  sell,  not  fly.  The  monster  kite  constructed 
by  the  light  of  Euclid  rose  steadily  into  the  air  like  a 
balloon,  and  eventually,  being  attached  to  the  chair,  drew 
Mr.  Arthur  at  a  reasonable  pace  about  half  a  mile  over 
a  narrow,  but  level  piece  of  turf  that  was  on  the  top  of 


154  LOVE  ME  LITTLE. 

the  Downs.  Q.  E.  D.  This  done,  these  two  patient 
creatures  had  to  wind  the  struggKng  monster  in  and 
go  back  again  to  the  starting  point.  Before  they  had 
quite  achieved  this,  two  petticoats  mounted  the  hill  and 
moved  toward  them  across  the  plateau.  At  sight  of 
them  David  thrilled  from  head  to  foot,  and  Arthur  cried, 
*'Oh,  bother!"  an  unjust  ejaculation,  since  it  was  by  his 
invitation  they  came.  His  alarms  were  verified.  The 
ladies  made  themselves  No.  1  directly,  and  the  poor 
kite  became  a  shield  for  flirtation.     Arthur  was  so  cross. 

At  last  the  B's  desire  to  occupy  attention  brought  her 
to  the  verge  of  trouble.  Seeing  David  saying  a  word  to 
Lucy,  she  got  into  the  chair  and  went  gaily  off  drawn  by 
the  kite,  which  Arthur  with  a  mighty  struggle  succeeded 
in  hooking  to  the  car  for  her.  Now  the  plateau  was 
narrow,  and  the  chair  wanted  guiding  —  it  was  easy  to 
guide  it,  but  Mrs.  Bazalgette  did  not  know  how  —  so  it 
sidled  in  a  pertinacious  and  horrid  way  toward  a  long 
and  steepish  slope  on  the  left  side.  She  began  to 
scream,  Arthur  to  laugh:  the  young  are  cruel;  and,  I 
am  afraid,  though  he  stood  perfectly  neutral  to  all 
appearance,  his  heart  within  nourished  black  designs. 
But  David  came  flying  up  at  her  screams — ^just  in  time. 
He  caught  the  lady's  shoulders  as  she  glided  over  the 
brow  of  the  slope,  and  lifted  her  by  his  great  strength  up 
out  of  the  chair,  which  went  the  next  moment  bounding 
and  jumping  athwart  the  hill,  and  soon  rolled  over  and 
grovelled  in  rather  an  ugly  way. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  sobbed  and  cried  so  prettily  on 
David's  shoulder,  and  had  to  be  petted  and  soothed  by 
all  hands.  Inward  composure  soon  returned,  though 
not  outward,  and  in  due  course  histrionics  commenced. 
First  the  sprain  business;  none  of  you  do  it  better. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  155 

ladies,  whatever  you  may  think.  David  had  to  carry 
her  a  bit.  But  she  was  too  wise  to  be  a  bore.  Next 
the  heroic  business;  would  be  put  down,  would  walk, 
possible  or  not,  would  not  be  a  trouble  to  her  kind 
friends.  Then  the  martyr  smiling  through  pain.  David 
was  very  attentive  to  her;  for  while  he  was  carrying  her 
in  his  arms  she  had  won  his  affection,  all  he  could  spare 
from  Lucy.  Which  of  you  can  tell  all  the  consequences 
if  you  go  and  carry  a  pretty  woman  with  her  little  insinu- 
ating mouth  close  to  your  ears  ? 

Lucy  and  Arthur  walked  behind.  Arthur  sighed. 
Lucy  was  reveuse.  Arthur  broke  silence  first.  "Lucy!" 

"Yes,  dear." 

"When  is  she  going .?" 

"Arthur,  for  shame!  I  won't  tell  you.   To-morrow." 

"Lucy,"  said  Arthur  with  a  depth  of  feeling,  "she 
spoils  everything!  !  !" 

Next  morning come  back?  What  for  ?  I  will 

have  the  good-ness  to  tell  you  what  she  said  in  his  ear? 
Why,  nothing. 

You  are  a  female  reader?  Oh !  that  alters  the  case : 
to  attempt  to  deceive  you,  would  be  cowardly,  immoral, 
it  would  fail.  She  sighed,  "My  preserver!"  at  which 
David  had  much  ado  not  to  laugh  in  her  face.  Then 
she  murmured  still  more  softly,  "You  must  come  and 
see  me  at  my  home  before  you  sail — ^will  you  not?  I 
insist"  (in  the  tone  of  a  supplicant)  **come!  promise  me." 

"That  I  will — ^with  pleasure,"  said  David,  flushing. 

"Mind!  it  is  a  promise.  Put  me  down!  Lucy,  come 
here  and  make  him  put  me  down.  I  will  not  be  a  bur- 
den to  my  friends." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

That  same  evening,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  being  alone  with 
Lucy  in  the  drawing-room,  put  her  arm  round  that  young 
lady's  waist,  and  lovingly,  not  seriously,  as  a  man  might 
have  been  apt  to  do,  reminded  her  of  her  honourable 
promise — not  to  be  caught  in  the  net  of  matrimony 
at  Font  Abbey.  Lucy  answered,  without  embarrass- 
ment, that  she  claimed  no  merit  for  keeping  her  word — 
no  one  had  had  the  ill  taste  to  invite  her  to  break  it. 

"You  are  either  very  sly,  or  very  blind,"  replied  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  quietly. 

**Aunt!"  said  Lucy  .piteously. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette,  who,  by  many  a  subtle  question  and 
observation  during  the  last  week,  had  satisfied  herself  of 
Lucy's  innocence,  now  set  to  work  and  laid  Uncle 
Fountain  bare. 

"I  do  not  speak  in  a  hurry,  Lucy;  a  hint  came  round 
to  me  a  fortnight  ago  that  you  had  an  admirer  here,  and 
it  turns  out  to  be  this  Mr.  Talboys." 

"Mr.Talboys.?" 

**Yes.  Does  that  surprise  you  .^  Do  you  think  a 
young  gentleman  would  come  to  Font  Abbey  three 
nights  in  a  week  without  a  motive.^" 

Lucy  reflected. 

"It  is  all  over  the  place  that  you  two  are  engaged." 

Lucy  coloured,  and  her  eyes  flashed  with  something 
very  like  anger;  but  she  held  her  peace. 

"Ask  Jane  else." 

"What,  take  my  servant  into  my  confidence  .^" 

156 


LOVE  ME  LONG  157 

"Oh,  there  is  a  way  of  setting  that  sort  of  people 
chattering  without  seeming  to  take  any  notice.  To 
tell  the  truth,  I  have  done  it  for  you.  It  is  all  over  the 
village,  and  all  over  the  house." 

**The  proper  person  to  ask  must  have  been  Uncle 
Fountain  himself." 

"As  if  he  would  have  told  me  the  truth." 

"  He  is  a  gentleman,  aunt,  and  would  not  have  uttered 
a  falsehood." 

"Doctrine  of  chivalry!  He  would  have  uttered  half- 
a-dozen  in  one  minute.  Besides,  why  should  I  question 
a  person  I  can  read  without.^  Your  uncle,  with  his 
babyish  cunning  that  everybody  sees  through,  has  given 
me  the  only  proof  I  wanted.  He  has  not  had  Mr. 
Talboys  here  once  since  I  came." 

"Cunning  little  aunt!  Mr.  Talboys  happens  not  to 
be  at  home  —  uncle  told  me  so  himself." 

"Simple  little  niece  —  uncle  told  you  a  fib;  Mr. 
Talboys  is  at  home.  And  observe!  until  I  came  to 
Font  Abbey,  he  was  here  three  times  a  week.  You 
admit  that.  I  come;  your  uncle  knows  I  am  not  so 
unobservant  as  you.     Mr.  Talboys  is  kept  out  of  sight." 

"The  proof  that  my  uncle  has  deceived  me?"  said 
Lucy  coldly,  and  with  lofty  incredulity. 

"Read  that  note  from  Miss  Dodd." 

"What,  you  in  correspondence  with  Miss  Dodd .?  ?" 

"That  is  to  say  she  has  thrust  herself  into  corre- 
spondence with  me;  just  like  her  assurance." 

The  letter  ran  thus: 

"Dear  Madam — My  brother  requests  me  to  say  that  in  compliance 
with  your  request  he  called  at  the  lodge  of  Talboys  Park,  and  the  people 
informed  him  Mr.  Talboys  has  not  left  Talboys  Park  at  all  since  Easter. 
I  remain,  yours,   &c." 


158  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Lucy  was  dumbfoundered. 

"I  suspected  something,  Lucy,  so  I  asked  Mr.  Dodd 
to  inquire." 

"It  was  a  singular  commission  to  send  him  on." 

"Oh,  he  takes  long  walks,  cruises  he  calls  them,  and 
he  is  so  good-natured.  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  your 
uncle's  veracity  now.?" 

Lucy  was  troubled  and  distressed ;  but  she  mastered 
her  countenance.  "I  think  he  has  sacrificed  it  for  once 
to  his  affection  for  me.  I  fear  you  are  right;  my  eyes 
are  opened  to  many  circumstances.  But  do,  oh  pray 
do,  see  his  goodness  in  all  this!" 

"The  goodness  of  a  story-teller.?" 

"He  admires  Mr.  Talboys.  He  reveres  him.  No 
doubt  he  wished  to  secure  his  poor  niece  what  he  thinks 
a  great  match,  and  now  you  assign  ill  motives  to  him. 
Yes,  I  confess  he  has  deviated  from  truth:  cruel!  cruel! 
what  can  you  give  me  in  exchange,  if  you  rob  me  of  my 
esteem  for  those  I  love!" 

This  innocent  distress  with  its  cause  was  too  deep 
for  a  lady  whose  bright  little  intelligence  leaned  toward 
cunning  rather  than  wisdom;  in  spite  of  her  niece's 
trouble,  and  the  brimming  eyes  that  implored  for- 
bearance, she  drove  the  sting  merrily  in  again  and  again, 
till  at  last  Lucy,  who  was  not  defending  herself,  but  an 
absent  friend,  turned  a  little  suddenly  on  her  and  said  — 
X  "And  do  you  think  he  says  nothing  against  you .?" 

" Oh!  he  is  a  backbiter  too,  is  he  ?  I  did  n't  know  he 
had  that  vice.  Ah!  and  pray,  what  can  he  find  to  say 
against  me.?" 

"Oh!  people  that  hate  one  another  can  always  find 
something  ill-natured  to  say,"  retorted  Lucy,  with  a 
world  of  meaning. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  159 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  turned  red,  and  her  little  nose  went 
up  into  the  air  at  an  angle  of  forty-five.  She  said  with 
majestic  disdain,  "I  don't  hate  the  man.  I  don't 
condescend  to  hate  him." 

*'Then  don't  condescend  to  backbite  him,  dear." 

This  home-thrust  coming  from  such  a  quarter,  took 
away  my  Lady  Disdain's  very  breath.  She  sat  trans- 
fixed; then  upon  reflection  got  up  a  tear,  and  had  to  be 
petted. 

This  sweet  lady  departed,  flinging  down  her  firebrand 
on  those  hospitable  boards. 

Lucy,  though  she  had  defended  her  uncle,  was  not 
a  little  vexed  that  he  had  managed  matters  so  as  to  get 
her  talked  of  with  Mr.  Talboys.  Her  natural  modesty 
and  reserve  prevented  her  from  remonstrating.  Nor 
was  there  any  positive  necessity.  She  was  one  of  those 
young  ladies  who  seem  born  mistresses  of  the  art  of 
self-defence.  Deriving  the  art,  not  from  experience  but 
from  instinct,  they  are  as  adroit  at  seventeen  as  they 
are  at  twenty-seven ;  even  so  a  last  year's  bird  constructs 
her  first  nest  as  cunningly  as  can  a  veteran  feathered 
architect. 

Therefore,  without  a  grain  of  discourtesy  or  tangible 
ill-temper,  she  quietly  froze,  and  a  small  family  with  her; 
they  could  not  tell  how  or  why,  for  they  had  never  even 
suspected  this  girl's  power.  You  would  have  seemed 
to  them  as  one  that  mocketh  had  you  told  them  they 
owed  their  gaiety,  their  good-humour,  their  happiness, 
and  their  conversational  powers  to  her. 

Of  these  Talboys  suffered  the  most.  She  brought 
him  to  a  standstill  by  a  very  simple  process.  She  no 
longer  patted  or  spurred  him:  to  vary  the  metaphor,  a 
man  that  has  no  current  must  be  stirred  or  stagnate; 


160  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Lucy's  light  hand  stirred  Talboys  no  more;  Talboys 
stagnated.  Mr.  Fountain  suffered  next  in  proportion. 
/  He  began  to  find  that  something  was  the  matter,  but 
what  he  had  no  idea.  He  did  not  observe  that,  though 
Lucy  answered  him  as  kindly  as  ever,  she  did  not  draw 
him  out  as  heretofore,  far  less  that  she  was  vexed  with 
him,  and  on  her  guard  against  him  and  everybody, 
like  a  maitresse  (Tarmes,  No!  ''the  days  were  drawing 
in.  The  air  was  heavy;  no  carbon  in  it.  Wind  in  the 
east  again!!!*'  &c.  So  subtle  is  the  influence  of  these 
silly  creatures  upon  creation's  lords. 

Mr.  Talboys  did  not  take  delicate  hints ;  he  continued 
his  visits  three  times  a  week,  and  the  coast  was  kept 
clear  for  him.  On  this  Miss  Fountain  proceeded  to 
overt  acts  of  war.  She  brought  a  champion  on  the 
scene,  a  terrible  champion,  a  champion  so  irresistible 
that  I  set  any  woman  down  as  a  coward  who  lets  him 
loose  upon  a  sex  already  so  unequal  to  the  contest  as 
ours.  What  that  champion's  real  name  is  I  have  in 
vain  endeavoured  to  discover;  but  he  is  called  "Head- 
ache." When  this  terrible  ally  mingled  in  the  game 
—  on  the  Talboys  nights  —  dismay  fell  upon  the 
wretched  males  that  abode  in  and  visited  the  once 
cheerful,  cosy  Font  Abbey.  Messrs.  Fountain  and 
Talboys  put  their  heads  together  in  grave,  anxious 
consultations,  and  Arthur  vented  a  yell  of  remonstrance. 
He  found  the  lady  one  afternoon  preparing  indisposition. 
She  was  leaning  languidly  back,  and  the  fire  was  dying 
out  of  her  eye,  and  the  colour  out  of  her  cheek,  and  the 
blinds  were  drawn  down.  The  poor  boy  burst  in  upon 
this  prologue.  "Oh,  Lucy,"  he  cried,  in  piteous,  fore- 
boding tones,  "don't  go  and  have  a  headache  to-night. 
It  was  so  jolly  till  you  took  to  these  stupid  headaches/' 


LOVE  ME  LONG  161 

"I  am  so  sorry,  Arthur,"  said  Lucy  apologetically, 
but  at  bottom  she  was  inexorable.  The  disease  reached 
its  climax  just  before  dinner;  all  remedies  failed,  and 
there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  return  to  her  own  room, 
and  read  the  last  new  tale  of  domestic  interest  —  and 
principle  —  till  sleep  came  to  her  relief. 

After  dinner  Arthur  shot  out  with  the  retiring  ser- 
vants, and  interred  himself  in  the  study  where  he  sought 
out  with  care  such  wild  romances  as  give  entirely  false 
views  of  life  —  and  found  them,  '*and  so  shut  up  in 
measureless  content."     Macbeth. 

The  seniors  consulted  at  their  ease.  They  both 
appreciated  the  painful  phenomenon.  But  they  differed 
toto  coelo  as  to  the  cause.  Mr.  Fountain  ascribed  it  to 
the  sombre  influence  of  Mrs.  Bazalgette;  and  miscalled 
her  till  Jane's  hair  stood  on  end  —  she  happened  to  be 
the  one  at  the  keyhole  that  night.  Mr.  Talboys  laid 
all  the  blame  on  David  Dodd.  The  discussion  was 
vigorous  and  occupied  more  than  two  hours,  and  each 
party  brought  forward  good  —  and  plausible  reasons ; 
and,  if  neither  made  any  progress  toward  converting 
the  other,  they  gained  this  at  least,  that  each  corrobo- 
rated himself.  Now  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  gone,  no 
direct  reprisals  on  her  were  possible.  Registering  a 
vow  that  one  day  or  other  he  would  be  even  with  her, 
the  senior  consented,  though  not  very  willingly,  to 
cooperate  with  his  friend  against  an  imaginary  danger. 
In  answer  to  his  remark  that  the  Dodds  were  never 
invited  to  tea  now,  Mr.  Talboys  had  replied,  **But  I 
find  from  Mr.  Arthur  he  visits  the  house  every  day  on 
the  pretence  of  teaching  him  mathematics;  a  barefaced 
pretence,  a  sailor  teach  mathematics!"  Mr.  Fountain 
had  much  ado  to  keep  his  temper  at  this  pertinacity 


162  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

in  a  jealous  dream.  He  gulped  his  ire  down,  however, 
and  said  somewhat  sullenly,  **I  really  cannot  consent 
to  send  my  poor  friend's  son  to  the  university  a  dunce, 
and  there  is  no  other  mathematician  near/' 

"If  I  find  you  one,"  said  Talboys  hastily,  **  will  you 
relieve  Mr.  Dodd  of  his  labours,  and  me  of  his  presence  ? 

"Certainly,"  sighed  the  other.     Poor  David. 

"Then  there  is  my  friend  Bramby;  he  is  a  second 
wrangler;  he  shall  take  Arthur,  and  keep  him  till  Miss 
Fountain  leaves  us.  Bramby  will  refuse  me  nothing. 
I  have  a  living  in  my  gift,  and  the  incumbent  is  eighty- 
eight." 

The  senior  consented  with  a  pitying  smile. 

"Bramby  will  take  him  next  week,"  said  Talboys 
severely. 

Mr.  Fountain  nodded  his  head.  It  was  all  the 
assent  he  could  effect;  and  at  that  moment  there  passed 
through  him  the  sacrilegious  thought,  that  the  Con- 
queror must  have  imported  an  ass  or  two  among  his 
other  forces,  and  that  one  of  these,  intermarrying  with 
Saxon  blood,  had  produced  a  mule,  and  that  mule 
was  his  friend. 

The  same  uneasy  jealousy,  which  next  week  was 
to  expel  David  from  Font  Abbey,  impelled  Mr.  Talboys 
to  call  the  very  next  day  at  one  o'clock  to  see  what  was 
being  done  under  cover  of  trigonometry.  He  found 
Mr.  and  Miss  Fountain  just  sitting  down  to  luncheon. 
David  and  Arthur  were  actually  together  somewhere, 
perhaps  going  through  the  farce  of  geometry.  He  was 
half  vexed  at  finding  no  food  for  his  suspicions.  Pres- 
ently, so  spiteful  is  chance  —  the  door  opened  and  in 
marched  Arthur  and  David. 

"I  have  made  him  stay  to  luncheon  for  once,"  said 


LOVE  ME  LONG  163 

Arthur,  ''he  could  n't  refuse  me ;  we  are  to  part  so  soon." 
Arthur  got  next  to  Lucy;  and  had  David  on  his  left. 
Mr.  Talboys  gave  Mr.  Fountain  a  look,  and  very  soon 
began  to  play  his  battery  upon  David. 

**How  do  you  naval  oflScers  find  time  to  learn 
geometry?" 

"What,  don't  you  know  it  is  a  part  of  our  education, 
sir?" 

'*I  never  heard  that  before." 

**That  is  odd;  but  perhaps  you  have  spent  all  your 
life  ashore."  (This  in  commiserating  accents.)  David 
then  politely  explained  to  Mr.  Talboys  that  a  man  who 
looked  one  day  to  command  a  ship  must  not  only  prac- 
tice seamanship,  but  learn  navigation,  and  that  navi- 
gation was  a  noble  art  founded  on  the  exact  sciences, 
as  well  as  on  practical  experiences;  that  there  did  still 
linger  upon  the  ocean  a  few  of  the  old  captains,  who, 
born  at  a  period  when  a  ship  in  making  a  voyage  used 
to  run  down  her  longitude  first,  and  then  begin  to  make 
her  latitude,  could  handle  a  ship  well  and  keep  her  off 
a  lee  shore  if  they  saw  it  in  time,  but  were  in  truth  hardly 
to  be  trusted  to  take  her  from  port  to  port.  "We  get  a 
word  with  these  old  salts  now  and  then  when  we  are 
becalmed  alongside,  and  the  questions  they  put  make 
us  quite  feel  for  them.  Then  they  trust  entirely  to 
their  instruments.  They  can  take  an  observation,  but 
they  can't  verify  one.  They  can  tack  her  and  wear  her 
(I  have  seen  them  do  one  when  they  should  have  done 
the  other),  and  they  can  read  the  sky  and  the  water 
better  than  we  young  ones;  and  while  she  floats  they 
stick  to  her,  and  the  greater  the  danger  the  louder  the 
oaths — but  that  is  all."  He  then  assured  them  with 
modest  fervour,  that  much  more  than  that  was  expected 


164  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

of  the  modern  commander,  particularly  in  the  two 
capital  articles  of  exact  science  and  gentlemanly  be- 
haviour. He  concluded  with  considerable  grace  by 
apologising  for  his  enthusiastic  view  of  a  profession 
that  had  been  too  often  confounded  with  the  faults  of 
its  professors,  faults  that  were  curable,  and  that  they 
would  all,  he  hoped,  live  long  enough  to  see  cured. 
Then  turning  to  Miss  Fountain  he  said,  "And  if  I 
began  by  despising  my  business,  and  taking  a  small 
view  of  it,  how  should  I  ever  hold  sticks  with  my  able 
competitors,  who  study  it  with  zeal  and  admiration  ?" 

Inicy.  **I  don't  quite  understand  all  you  have  said, 
Mr.  Dodd,  but  that  last  I  think  is  unanswerable." 

Fountain,  **I  am  sure  of  it.  As  the  Duke  of  Welling- 
ton said  the  other  day  in  the  House  of  Lords,  'that  is 
a  position  I  defy  any  noble  lord  to  assault  with  success!' 
—  haw!  ho!" 

Mr.  Talboys  diverted  his  attack.  "Pray,  sir,"  said 
he,  with  a  sneer,  "may  I  ask,  have  nautical  commanders 
a  particular  taste  for  education  as  well  as  science?" 

"Not  that  I  know  of.  If  you  mean  me,  I  am 
hungry  to  learn,  and  I  find  few  but  what  can  teach  me 
something,  and  what  little  I  know  I  am  willing  to 
impart,  sir  —  give  and  take!" 

"It  is  the  direction  of  your  teaching  that  seems  to 
me  so  singular.  Mathematics  are  horrible  enough, 
and  greatly  to  be  avoided." 

"That  is  news  to  me." 

"  On  terra  firma,  I  mean." 

At  this  opening  of  the  case  Talboys  versus  Newton, 
Arthur  shrugged  his  shoulders  to  Lucy  and  David,  and 
went  swiftly  out  as  from  the  presence  of  an  idiot.  It 
was  abominably  rude.     But  besides  being  ill-natured 


LOVE  ME  LONG  165 

and  a  little  shallow,  Mr.  Talboys  was  drawling  out  his 
words,  and  Arthur  was  sixteen,  candid  epoch,  at  which 
affectation  in  man  or  woman  is  intolerable  to  us ;  we  get 
a  little  hardened  to  it  long  before  sixty.  Mr.  Talboys 
bit  his  lip  at  this  boyish  impertinence,  but  he  was 
too  proud  a  man  to  notice  it  otherwise  than  by  quietly 
incorporating  the  offender  into  his  satire.  "But  the 
enigma  is,  why  you  read  them  with  a  stripling,  of 
whose  breeding  we  have  just  had  a  specimen;  mathe- 
matics with  a  hobbade-hoy  ?  Grand  Dieul  Do  pray  tell 
us,  Mr.  Dodd,  why  you  come  to  Font  Abbey  every  day; 
is  it  really  to  teach  Master  Orson  mathematics  and 
manners?" 

David  did  not  sink  into  the  earth  as  he  was 
intended  to. 

"I  come  to  teach  him  algebra  and  geometry;  what 
little  I  know." 

"But  your  motive,  Mr.  Dodd?" 

David  looked  puzzled,  Lucy  uneasy  at  seeing  her 
guest  badgered. 

"Ask  Miss  Fountain  why  she  thinks  I  do  my  best  for 
Arthur  ?"  said  David,  lowering  his  eyes. 

Talboys  coloured  and  looked  at  Fountain. 

"  I  think  it  must  be  out  of  pure  goodness,"  said  Lucy 
sweetly. 

Mr.  Talboys  ignored  her  calmly.  "Pray,  enlighten 
us,  Mr.  Dodd.  Now,  what  is  the  real  reason  you  walk 
a  mile  every  day  to  do  mathematics  with  that  interesting 
and  well-behaved  juvenile  ?" 

"  You  are  very  curious,  sir,"  said  David  grimly,  his  ire 
rising  unseen. 

"I  am  —  on  this  point." 

"Well,  since  you  must  be  told  what  most  men  could 


166  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

see  without  help,  it  is  —  because  he  is  an  orphan ;  and 
because  an  orphan  finds  a  brother  in  every  man  that  is 
worth  the  shoe-leather  he  stands  in;  can  ye  read  the 
riddle  now,  ye  lubber?"  and  David  started  up  haught- 
ily, and  with  contempt  and  wrath  on  his  face,  marched 
through  the  open  window  and  joined  his  little  friend  on 
the  lawn,  leaving  Fountain  red  with  anger,  and  Talboys 
white. 

The  next  thing  was,  Lucy  rose  and  went  quietly  out 
of  the  room  by  the  door. 

**It  is  the  last  time  he  shall  set  his  foot  within  my 
door:  provoking  cub!" 

**You  are  convinced  at  last  that  he  is  a  dangerous 
rival." 

"A  rival  .P  nonsense  and  stuff!  !" 

"Then  why  was  she  so  agitated  ?  She  went  out  with 
tears  in  her  eyes  —  I  saw  them." 

"The  poor  girl  was  frightened,  no  doubt.  We  don't 
have  fracas  at  Font  Abbey.  On  this  one  spot  of  earth 
comfort  reigns,  and  balmy  peace,  and  shall  reign 
unruffled  while  I  live.  The  passions  are  not  admitted 
here,  sir.  Gracious  heaven  forbid !  I  'd  as  soon  see  a 
bonfire  in  the  middle  of  my  dining-room  as  Jealousy 
and  Co." 

"In  that  case  you  had  better  exclude  the  cause." 

"The  cause  is  your  imagination,  my  good  friend; 
but  I  will  give  it  no  handle.  I  will  exclude  David  Dodd 
until  she  has  accepted  you  in  form." 

With  this  understanding  the  friends  parted. 

After  dinner  that  same  day,  Arthur  sat  in  the  drawing- 
room  with  Lucy.  He  was  reading :  she  working  placidly. 
She  looked  off  her  work  demurely  at  hina  several  times. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  167 

He  was  absorbed  in  a  flighty  romance.  "I  have 
dropped  my  worsted,  Arthur.     It  is  by  you." 

Arthur  picked  the  ball  up  and  brought  it  her;  then 
back  to  his  romance,  heart  and  soul.  Another  side- 
long glance  at  him.  Then,  after  a  long  silence,  "Your 
book  seems  very  interesting." 

"I  '11  fling  it  against  the  wall  if  it  does  n't  mind,"  was 
the  infuriated  reply.  "Here  are  two  fools  quarrelling, 
page  after  page,  and  can't  see,  or  won't  see,  what  every- 
body else  can  see,  that  it  is  all  an  absurd  misunder- 
standing. One  word  of  common-sense  would  put  it 
all  right." 

"Then  why  not  put  the  book  down  and  talk  to  me .?" 

"I  can't.  It  won't  let  me.  I  must  see  how  long  the 
two  fools  will  go  on  not  seeing  what  everybody  else 


sees." 


"Will  not  the  number  of  volumes  tell  you  that .?" 

"Signorina,  don't  you  try  to  be  satirical!"  said  the 
sprightly  youth;  "you  '11  only  make  a  mess  of  it.  What 
is  the  use  dropping  one  drop  of  vinegar  into  such  a  great 
big  honey-pot.^" 

"You  are  a  saucy  boy,"  retorted  Lucy,  in  tones  of 
gentle  approbation. 

A  long  silence. 

"Arthur,  will  you  hold  this  skein  for  me?" 

Arthur  groaned. 

"Never  mind,  dear.  I  will  try  and  manage  with  a 
chair." 

"No,  you  won't  now;  there." 

The  victim  was  caught  by  the  hands ;  but,  with  fatal 
instinctive  perverseness,  he  sat  in  silent  amazement 
watching  Lucy's  supple  white  hand  disentangling 
impossibilities,  instead  of  chattering  as  he  was  intended 


168  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

to.  Lucy  gave  a  little  sigh.  Here  was  a  dreadful 
business:  obliged  to  elicit  the  information  she  had 
resolved  should  be  forced  upon  her. 

**By-the-by,  Arthur,"  said  she  carelessly,  **did  Mr. 
Dodd  say  anything  to  you  on  the  lawn .?" 

"What  about.?*' 

"About  what  was  said  after  you  went  out  so  ru 

so  suddenly." 

"No;  why?  what  was  said.?  Something  about  me? 
tell   me." 

"Oh  no,  dear,  as  Mr.  Dodd  did  not  mention  it,  it  is 
not  worth  while.  You  must  not  move  your  hands, 
please." 

"  Now,  Lucy,  that  is  too  bad.  It  is  not  fair  to  excite 
one's  curiosity  and  then  stop  directly." 

"  But  it  is  nothing.  Mr.  Talboys  teased  Mr.  Dodd  a 
little,  that  is  all;  and  Mr.  Dodd  was  not  so  patient  as 
I  have  seen  him  on  like  occasions  There,  you  are 
disentangled  at  last." 

"Now,  signorina,  let  us  talk  sense.  Tell  me,  which 
do  you  like  the  best  of  all  the  gentlemen  that  come 
here?" 

"You,  dear  —  only  keep  your  hands  still!" 

"None  of  your  chaff,  Lucy." 

"Chaff!  what  is  that?" 

" Flattery,  then.  I  hope  it  isn't  that  affected  fool 
Talboys.     For  I  hate  him." 

"I  cannot  undertake  to  share  your  prejudices,  Mr. 
Arthur." 

"Then  you  actually  like  him.'* 

"I  don't  dislike  him." 

"Then  I  pity  your  taste,  that  is  all." 

"Mr.  Talboys  has  many  good  qualities;  and  if  he 


LOVE  ME  LONG  169 

was  what  you  describe  him,  Uncle  Fountain  would  not 
prize  him  as  he  does." 

"There  is  something  in  that,  Lucy;  but  I  think  my 
guardian  and  you  are  mad  upon  just  that  one  point. 
Talboys,  he  is  a  fool  and  a  snob." 

"Arthur,"  said  Lucy  severely, "  if  you  speak  so  of  my 
uncle's  friends,  you  and  I  shall  quarrel." 

"You  won't  quarrel  just  now,  if  you  can  help  it." 

"Won't  I,  though ?  why  not,  pray ?" 

"  Because  your  skein  is  not  wound  yet.'* 

"Oh,  you  little  black-hearted  thing!" 

"I  know  human  nature,  miss,"  said  the  urchin 
pompously.     "I  have  read  Miss  Edgeworth!  !  !" 

He  then  made  an  appeal  to  her  candour  and  good 
sense.  "Now,  don't  you  see  my  friend,  Mr.  Dodd,  is 
worth  them  all  put  together.?" 

"I  can't  quite  see  that." 

"He  is  so  noble,  so  kind,  so  clever." 

"You  must  own  he  is  a  little  brusque." 

"  Never.  And  if  he  is,  that  is  not  like  hurting  people's 
feelings  on  purpose,  and  saying  nasty  ill-natured  things 
wrapped  up  in  politeness  that  you  daren't  say  out  like 
a  man,  or  you'd  get  kicked.  He  is  a  gentleman  inside, 
that  Talboys  is  only  one  outside;  but  you  girls  can't 
look  below  the  surface." 

"  We  have  not  read  Miss  Edgeworth.  His  hands  are 
not  so  white  as  Mr.  Talboys'." 

**  Nor  his  liver  either  —  oh,  you  goose!  which  has  the 
finest  eyes  ?  why,  you  don't  see  such  eyes  as  Mr.  Dodd's 
every  day.  They  are  as  large  as  yours,  only  his  are 
dark." 

"Don't  be  angry,  dear.  You  must  admit  his  voice 
is  very  loud." 


170  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"He  can  make  it  loud;  but  it  is  always  low  and 
gentle  whenever  he  speaks  to  you.  I  have  noticed 
that;  so  that  is  monstrous  ungrateful  of  you." 

*' There,  the  skein  is  wound.     Arthur!" 

*'Well.?" 

"I  have  a  great  mind  to  tell  you  something  your 
friend  Mr.  Dodd  said  while  you  were  out  of  the  room; 
but,  no,  you  shall  finish  your  story  first." 

**No,  no!  hang  the  story." 

**Ah,  you  only  say  that  out  of  politeness.  I  have 
taken  you  from  it  so  long  already." 

The  impetuous  boy  jumped  up,  seized  the  volumes, 
dashed  out,  and  presently  came  running  back,  crying, 
**  There,  I  have  thrown  them  behind  the  bookcase  for 
ever  and  ever.     Now,  will  you  tell  me  what  he  sai^." 

Lucy  smiled  triumphantly.  She  could  relish  a  blood- 
less victory  over  an  inanimate  rival.  Then  she  said 
softly,  "Arthur,  what  I  am  going  to  tell  you  is  in 
confidence." 

"I  will  be  torn  in  pieces  before  I  betray  it,"  said  the 
young  chevalier. 

Lucy  smiled  at  his  extravagance,  then  began  again 
very  gravely,  "Mr.  Talboys,  who,  with  many  good 
qualities,  has,  what  shall  I  say,  narrow  and  artificial 
views  compared  with  your  friend " 

"Ah!  now  you  are  talking  sense." 

"  Then,  why  interrupt  me,  dear  ? — began  teasing  him 
and  wanting  to  know  the  real  reason  he  comes  here." 

"The  real  reason!  What  did  the  fool  mean.?" 

"How  can  I  tell,  Arthur,  any  more  than  you  ?  Mr. 
Dodd  evidently  thought  that  some  slur  was  meant  on 
the  purity  of  his  friendship  for  you." 

"Shame!  shame!  oh!" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  171 

"I  saw  his  anger  rising;  for  Mr.  Dodd,  though  not 
irritable,  is  passionate  —  at  least,  I  think  so.  I  tried 
to  smooth  matters.  But  no;  Mr.  Talboys  persisted  in 
putting  this  ungenerous  question,  when  all  of  a  sudden 
Mr.  Dodd  burst  out,  'You  wish  to  know  why  I  love 
Arthur:  because  he  is  an  orphan;  and  because  an 
orphan  finds  a  brother  in  every  man  who  is  worth  the 
shoe-leather  he  stands  in.  That  is  all  the  riddle,  you 
lubber!  !'  It  was  terribly  rude;  but,  oh,  Arthur!  I 
must  tell  you  your  friend  looked  noble;  he  seemed  to 
swell  and  rise  to  a  giant  as  he  spoke,  and  we  all  felt  such 
little  shrimps  around  him:  and  his  lip  trembled  and 
fire  flashed  from  his  eyes :  how  you  would  have  admired 
him  then,  and  he  swept  out  of  the  room  and  left  us  for 
his  little  friend,  who  is  worthy  of  it  all,  since  he  stands 
up  for  him  against  us  all.  Arthur!  why,  he  is  crying! 
poor  child!  and  do  you  think  those  words  did  not  go 
to  my  heart  as  well.?  I  am  an  orphan,  too.  Arthur, 
don't  cry,  love!  oh!  oh!  oh!" 

Oh,  magic  of  a  word  from  a  great  heart !  such  a  word, 
uncouth  and  simple,  but  hot  from  a  manly  bosom, 
pierced  silk  and  broadcloth,  as  if  they  had  been  calico 
and  fustian;  and  made  a  fashionable  young  lady  and  a 
bold  schoolboy  take  hands  and  cry  together.  But  such 
sweet  tears  dry  quickly  —  they  dry  almost  as  they 
flow. 

** Hallo!"  cried  the  mercurial  prince,  "a  sudden 
thought  strikes  me.  You  kept  running  him  down  a 
minute  ago." 

**Me .?"  said  Lucy,  with  a  look  of  amazement. 

"Why,  you  know  you  did;  now  tell  me,  what  was 
that  for?" 


172 


LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 


"To  give  you  the  pleasure  of  defending  him." 

**  Oh.  Hum  ?  —  Lucy,  you  are  not  quite  so  simple  as 
the  others  think;  sometimes  I  can't  make  you  out 
myself." 

"Is  it  possible  ?  well,  you  know  what  to  do,  dear." 

"No,  I  don't." 

"Why,  read  Miss  Edgeworth  over  again." 


CHAPTER  IX 

Arthur  was  bundled  off  to  a  private  tutor,  and  the 
Dodds  invited  to  Font  Abbey  no  more;  and  Talboys 
dined  there  three  days  a  week.  So  far,  David  Dodd 
was  in  a  poor  and  miserable  position  compared  with 
Talboys,  who  visited  Lucy  at  pleasure,  and  could  close 
the  very  street-door  against  a  rival,  real  or  imaginary. 
But  the  street-door  is  not  the  door  of  the  heart,  and 
David  had  one  little  advantage  over  his  powerful 
antagonist:  it  was  a  slender  one,  and  he  owed  it  to  a 
subtle  source — female  tact.  His  sister  and  ally  had 
long  been  aware  of  Talboys.  The  gossip  of  the  village 
had  enlightened  her  as  to  his  visits  and  supposed  pre- 
tensions. She  had  deliberately  withheld  this  information 
from  her  brother,  for  she  said  to  herself,  "Men  always 
make  such  fools  of  themselves  when  they  are  jealous. 
No.  David  sha'n't  even  know  he  has  got  a  rival ;  if  he 
did  he  would  be  wretched  and  live  on  thorns,  and  then 
he  would  get  into  passions,  and  either  make  a  fool  of 
himself  in  her  eyes,  or  do  something  rash  and  be  shown 
to  the  door."  Thus  far  Eve,  defending  her  brother. 
And  with  this  piece  of  shrewdness  she  did  a  little  more 
for  him  than  she  intended,  or  was  conscious  of;  for 
Talboys,  either  by  feeble  calculation  or  instinct  of  petty 
rivalry,  constantly  sneered  at  David  before  Lucy. 
David  never  mentioned  Talboys'  name  to  her.  Now 
superior  ignores,  inferior  detracts.  Thus  Talboys 
lowered  himself  and  rather  elevated  David;  moreover, 
he  counteracted  his  own  strongest  weapon  —  the  street- 

173 


174  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

door.  After  putting  David  out  of  sight,  this  judicious 
rival  could  not  let  him  fade  out  of  mind  too;  he  found 
means  to  stimulate  the  lady's  memory,  and,  as  far  as  in 
him  lay,  made  the  absent  present.  May  all  my  foes 
unweave  their  webs  as  cleverly!  David  knew  nothing 
of  this.  He  saw  himself  shut  out  from  Paradise,  and 
he  was  sad.  He  felt  the  loss  of  Arthur,  too.  The 
orphan  had  been  medicine  to  him.  When  a  man  is 
absorbed  in  a  hopeless  passion,  to  be  employed  every 
day  in  a  good  action  has  a  magical  soothing  influence 
on  the  racked  heart.  Try  this  instead  of  suicide,  despair- 
ing lover!  It  is  a  quack  remedy:  no  M.  D.  prescribes 
it.  Never  you  mind;  in  desperate  ills  a  little  cure  is 
worth  a  deal  of  etiquette.  Poor  David  had  lost  this 
innocent  comfort,  lost,  too,  the  pleasure  of  going  every 
day  to  the  house  she  lived  in.  To  be  sure,  when  he 
used  to  go  he  seldom  caught  a  glimpse  of  her,  but  he 
did  now  and  then,  and  always  enjoyed  the  hope. 

**I  see  how  it  is,"  said  he  to  Eve  one  day;  "I  am  not 
welcome  to  the  master  of  the  house.  Well,  he  is  the 
master:  I  shall  not  force  my  way  where  I  am  not  wel- 
come;" but  after  these  spirited  words  he  hung  his  head. 

*'Oh,  nonsense,"  said  Eve.  "It  is  n't  him.  There 
are  mischief-makers  behind." 

* '  Ay  ?  just  you  tell  me  who  they  are !  I  '11  teach  them 
to  come  across  my  hawse,"  and  David's  eyes  flashed. 

"Don't  you  be  silly,"  said  Eve,  and  turned  it  off; 
"and  don't  be  so  down-hearted;  why,  you  are  not  half 
a  man." 

"No  more  I  am.  Eve.     What  has  come  to  me.^" 

"What,  indeed.?  just  when  everything  goes  swim- 
mingly." 

"Eve,  how  can  you  say  so!" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  175 

"Why,  David,  she  leaves  this  in  a  few  days  for  Mrs. 
Bazalgette's  house.  You  tell  me  you  have  got  a  warm 
invitation  there.  Then  make  the  play  there,  and,  if 
you  can't  win  her,  say  you  don't  deserve  her,  twiddle 
your  thumb  and  see  a  bolder  lover  carry  her  off.  You 
foolish  boy,  she  is  only  a  woman,  she  is  to  be  won.  If 
you  don't  mind,  some  man  will  show  you  it  was  as 
easy  as  you  think  it  is  hard;  timid  wooers  make  a 
mountain  of  a  mole-hill." 

"Why,  it  is  you  who  have  kept  me  backing  and 
filling  all  this  time.  Eve." 

"Of  course.  Prudence  at  first  starting;  but  that 
is  n't  to  say  courage  is  never  to  come  in :  first  creep 
within  the  fortification-wall;  but  once  inside,  if  you 
don't  storm  the  city  that  minute,  woe  be  unto  you. 
Come,  cheer  up !  it  is  only  for  a  few  days,  and  then  she 
goes  where  you  will  have  her  all  to  yourself;  besides, 
you  shall  have  one  sweet  delicious  evening  with  her  all 
alone  before  she  goes.  What,  have  you  forgotten  the 
pedigree?  Was  n't  I  right  to  keep  that  back.?  and 
now,  march  and  take  a  good  long  walk." 

Her  tongue  was  a  spur;  it  made  David's  drooping 
manhood  rear  and  prance  —  a  trumpet,  and  pealed 
victory  to  come.  David  kissed  her  warmly,  and  strode 
away  radiant.     She  looked  sadly  after  him. 

She  had  never  spoken  so  hopefully,  so  encouragingly. 
The  reason  will  startle  such  of  my  readers  as  have  not 
taken  the  trouble  to  comprehend  her.  It  was  that  she 
had  never  so  thoroughly  desponded  —  such  was  Eve: 
when  matters  went  smoothly,  she  itched  to  torment 
and  take  the  gloss  off  David ;  but  now  the  affair  looked 
really  desperate;  so  it  would  have  been  unkind  not  to 
sustain  him  with  all  her  soul.    The  cause  of  her  despond- 


176  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

ency  and  consequent  cheerfulness  shall  now  be  briefly 
related.  Scarce  an  hour  ago  she  had  met  Miss  Foun- 
tain in  the  village  and  accompanied  her  home.  For 
David's  sake  she  had  diverted  the  conversation  by  easy 
degrees  to  the  subject  of  marriage,  in  order  to  sound 
Miss  Fountain.  "You  would  never  give  your  hand 
without  your  heart,  I  am  sure." 

**  Heaven  forbid,"  was  the  reply. 

"Not  even  to  a  coronet?" 

"Not  even  to  a  crown." 

So  far  so  good,  but  Miss  Fountain  went  on  to  say 
that  the  heart  was  not  the  only  thing  to  be  consulted 
in  a  matter  so  important  as  marriage. 

"It  is  the  only  thing  I  would  ever  consult,"  said  Eve. 
As  Lucy  did  not  reply,  Eve  asked  her  next,  what  she 
would  do  if  she  loved  a  poor  man.?  Lucy  replied 
coldly  that  it  was  not  her  present  intention  to  love  any- 
body but  her  relations;  that  she  should  never  love  any 
gentleman  until  she  had  been  married  to  him,  or,  cor- 
recting herself,  at  all  events,  been  some  time  engaged 
to  him,  and  she  should  certainly  never  engage  herself 
to  any  one  who  would  not  rather  improve  her  position 
in  society  than  deteriorate  it.  Eve  met  these  pretty 
phrases  with  a  look  of  contempt,  as  much  as  to  say, 
"While  you  speak  I  am  putting  all  that  into  plain 
vulgar  English."  The  other  did  not  seem  to  notice 
it.  "To  leave  this  interesting  topic  for  a  while,"  said 
she  languidly,  "let  me  consult  you,  Miss  DoJd.  I 
have  not,  as  you  may  have  noticed,  great  abilities,  but 
I  have  received  an  excellent  education.  To  say  nothing 
of  those  soi-disant  accomplishments  with  which  we 
adorn,  and  sometimes  weary,  society,  my  dear  mother 
had  me  well  grounded  in  languages  and  history.  Without 


LOVE  ME  LONG  177 

being  eloquent  I  have  a  certain  fluency,  in  which, 
they  tell  me,  even  members  of  parliament  are  deficient, 
smoothly  as  their  speeches  read  made  into  English  bv 
the  newspapers.  Like  yourself.  Miss  Dodd,  and  all 
our  sex,  I  am  not  destitute  of  tact;  and  tact,  you  know, 
is  *the  talent  of  talents.'  I  feel,"  here  she  bit  her  lip, 
**  myself  fit  for  public  life.     I  am  ambitious." 

**Oh,  you  are,  are  you.^" 

"Very;  and  perhaps  you  will  kindly  tell  me  how 
I  had  best  direct  that  ambition;  the  army .?  no;  march- 
ing against  daisies,  and  dancing  and  flirting  in  garrison 
towns  is  frivolous  and  monotonous,  too.  It  is  n't  as  if 
war  was  raging,  trumpets  ringing,  and  squadrons  charg- 
ing. Your  brother's  profession  ?  —  Not  for  the  world : 
I  am  a  coward  [consistent].  Shall  I  lower  my  preten- 
sions to  the  learned  professions  ?" 

*'I  don't  doubt  your  cleverness,  but  the  learned  pro- 
fessions?" 

*' A  woman  has  a  tongue,  you  know,  and  that  is  their 
grand  requisite.  I  interrupted  you.  Miss  Dodd,  pray 
forgive   me." 

*'  Well  then,  let  us  go  through  them.  To  be  a  clergy- 
man, what  is  required  ?  to  preach,  and  visit  the  sick,  and 
feel  for  them,  and  understand  what  passes  in  the  sorrow- 
ful hearts  of  the  afflicted.     Is  that  beyond  our  sex.?" 

"That  last  is  far  more  beyond  a  man  at  most  times; 
and  oh,  the  discourses  one  has  to  sit  out  in  church!" 

"Portia  made  a  very  passable  barrister,  Miss  Dodd." 

"Oh,  did  she.?" 

"Why,  you  know  she  did;  and  as  for  medicine,  the    a 
great  successes  there  are  achieved  by  honeyed  words 
with  a  long  word  thrown  in  here  and  there.     I  've  heard 
my  own  mamma  say  so;  now,  which  shall  I  be.?" 


178  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"I  suppose  you  are  making  fun  of  me,"  said  Eve, 
*'but  there  is  many  a  true  word  spoken  in  jest.  You 
could  be  a  better  parson,  lawyer,  or  doctor  than  nine 
out  of  ten;  but  they  won't  let  us:  they  know  we  could 
beat  them  into  fits  at  anything  but  brute  strength  and 
wickedness.  So  they  have  shut  all  those  doors  in  us 
poor  girls'  faces." 

'* There,  you  see,"  said  Lucy  archly;  "but  two  lines 
are  open  to  our  honourable  ambition,  marriage,  and  — 
watercolours.  I  think  marriage  the  more  honourable 
of  the  two;  above  all,  it  is  the  more  fashionable. 
Can  you  blame  me,  then,  if  my  ambition  chooses  the 
altar,  and  not  the  easel?" 

"So  that  is  what  you  have  been  bringing  me  to." 

"You  came  of  your  own  accord,"  was  the  sly  retort. 
"Let  me  offer  you  some  luncheon." 

"No,  thank  you;  I  could  not  eat  a  morsel  just  now." 

Eve  went  away,  her  bright  little  face  visibly  cast 
down.  It  was  not  Miss  Fountain's  words  only,  and 
that  new  trait  of  hard  satire  which  she  had  so  suddenly 
produced  from  her  secret  recesses.  Her  very  tones 
were  cynical  and  worldly  to  Eve's  delicate  sense  of 
hearing. 

"Poor,  poor  David!!"  she  thought,  and  when  she 
got  to  the  door  of  the  room  she  sighed ;  and  as  she  went 
home  she  said  more  than  once  to  herself,  "No  more 
heart  than  a  marble  statue.  Oh!  how  true  our  first 
thought  is;  I  come  back  to  mine.     .     ." 

Lucy  {sola).  "  Then  what  right  had  she  to  come  here 
and  try  to  turn  me  inside  out.?" 


CHAPTER  X 

As  THE  hour  of  Lucy's  departure  drew  near  Mr.  Foun- 
tain became  anxious  to  see  her  betrothed  to  his  friend, 
for  fear  of  accidents.  *'You  had  better  propose  to  her 
in  form,  or  authorise  me  to  do  so,  before  she  goes  to  that 
Mrs.  Bazalgette."  This  time  it  was  Talboys  that  hung 
back;  he  objected  that  the  time  was  not  opportune. 
"I  make  no  advance,"  said  he;  ''on  the  contrary,  I 
seem  of  late  to  have  lost  ground  with  your  niece." 

"Oh,  I  've  seen  the  sort  of  distance  she  has  put  on; 
all  superficial,  my  dear  sir.  I  read  it  in  your  favour  — 
I  know  the  sex;  they  can't  elude  me  —  pique,  sir,  noth- 
ing on  earth  but  female  pique.  She  is  bitter  against  us 
for  shilly-shallying.  These  girls  hate  shilly-shally  in 
a  man.  They  are  monopolists,  severe  monopolists  — 
shilly-shally  is  one  of  their  monopolies.  Throw  your- 
self at  her  feet,  and  press  her  with  ardour;  she  will 
clear  up  directly."  The  proposed  attitude  did  not 
tempt  the  stiff  Talboys.     His  pride  took  the  alarm. 

"Thank  you,  it  is  a  position  in  which  I  should  not 
care  to  place  myself  unless  I  was  quite  sure  of  not  being 
refused.  No,  I  will  not  risk  my  proposal  while  she  is 
under  the  influence  of  this  Dodd;  he  is  somehow  or 
other  the  cause  of  her  coldness  to  me." 

"Good  heavens!  why,  she  has  been  hermetically 
sealed  against  him  ever  so  long,"  cried  Fountain, 
almost  angrily. 

"I  saw  his  sister  come  out  of  your  gate  only  the  other 
day.     Sisters  are  emissaries ;  dangerous  ones  too.    Who 

179 


180  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

knows  ?  her  very  coldness  may  be  vexation  that  this 
man  is  excluded.  Perhaps  she  suspects  me  as  the 
cause." 

"These  are  chimeras — wild  chimeras.  My  niece 
cares  nothing  for  such  people  as  the  Dodds." 

**I  beg  your  pardon,  these  low  attachments  are  the 
strongest.     It  is  a  notorious  fact." 

** There  is  no  attachment;  there  is  nothing  but 
civility,  and  the  affability  of  a  well-bred  superior  to  an 
inferior.  Attachment!  why,  there  is  not  a  girl  in 
Europe  less  capable  of  marrying  beneath  her;  and  she 
is  too  cold  to  flirt — but  with  a  view  to  a  matrimonial 
position.  The  worst  of  it  is,  that  while  you  fear  an 
imaginary  danger  you  are  running  into  a  real  one.  If 
we  are  defeated  it  will  not  be  by  Dodd,  but  by  that  Mrs. 
Bazalgette.  Why,  now  I  think  of  it,  whence  does 
Lucy's  coldness  date.^  from  that  viper's  visit  to  my 
house.  Rely  on  it,  if  we  are  suffering  from  any  rival 
influence,  it  is  that  woman's.  She  is  a  dangerous 
woman,  she  is  a  character  I  detest — she  is  a  schemer." 

"Am  I  to  understand  that  Mrs.  Bazalgette  has  views 
of  her  own  for  Miss  Fountain?"  inquired  Talboys,  his 
jealousy  half  inclined  to  follow  the  new  lead. 

"In  all  probability." 

"Oh!  then  it  is  mere  surmise." 

"No;  it  is  not  mere  surmise;  it  is  the  reasonable  con- 
jecture of  a  man  who  knows  her  sex,  and  human  nature, 
and  life.  Since  I  have  my  views,  what  more  likely  than 
that  she  has  hers,  if  only  to  spite  me  ?  Add  to  this  her 
strange  visit  to  Font  Abbey,  and  the  sombre  influence 
she  has  left  behind.  And  to  this  woman  Lucy  is  going 
unprotected  by  any  positive  pledge  to  you.  Here  is 
the  true  cause  for  anxiety.     And,  if  you  do  not  share 


LOVE  ME  LONG  181 

it  with  me,  it  must  be  that  you  do  not  care  about  our 
alliance." 

Mr.  Talboys  was  hurt.  **  Not  care  for  the  alliance  ? 
It  was  dear  to  him:  all  the  dearer  for  the  difficulties. 
He  was  attached  to  Miss  Fountain,  warmly  attached; 
would  do  anything  for  her  —  except  run  the  risk  of  an 
affront  —  a  refusal."  Then  followed  a  long  discussion, 
the  result  of  which  was  that  he  would  not  propose  in 
form  now,  but  would  give  proofs  of  his  attachment  such 
as  no  lady  could  mistake ;  inter  alia  he  would  be  sure  to 
spend  the  last  evening  with  her,  and  would  ride  the  first 
stage  with  her  next  day,  squeeze  her  hand  at  parting, 
and  look  unutterable.  And,  as  for  the  formal  proposal, 
that  was  only  postponed  a  week  or  two.  Mr.  Fountain 
was  to  pay  his  visit  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  and  secretly 
prepare  Miss  Fountain;  then  Talboys  would  suddenly 
pounce,  and  —  pop.  The  grandeur  and  boldness  of 
this  strategy  staggered  rather  than  displeased  Mr. 
Fountain. 

"What,  under  her  own  roof .?"  and  he  could  not  help 
rubbing  his  hands  with  glee  and  spite:  "under  her  own 
eye  and  malgre  her  personal  influence  ?  Why,  you  are 
Nap.  L!" 

"  She  will  be  quite  out  of  the  way  of  the  Dodds  there," 
said  Talboys  slily. 

The  senior  groaned:  (**  *Mule  I.'  I  should  have 
said.") 

And  so  they  cut  and  dried  it  all. 

The  last  evening  came,  and  with  it,  just  before  dinner, 
a  line  by  special  messenger  from  Mr.  Talboys.  "He 
could  not  come  that  evening.     His  brother  had  just 


182  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

arrived  from  India:  they  had  not  met  for  seven  years. 
He  could  not  set  him  to  dine  alone." 

After  dinner,  in  the  middle  of  her  uncle's  nap,  in 
came  Lucy  and,  unheard  of  occurrence,  deed  of  dread- 
ful note  —  woke  him.  She  was  radiant,  and  held  a  note 
from  Eve,  "Good  news,  uncle,  those  good,  kind  Dodds! 
They  are  coming  to  tea." 

"What.?"  and  he  wore  a  look  of  consternation. 
Recollecting,  however,  that  Talboys  was  not  to  be 
there,  he  was  indifferent  again.  But  when  he  read 
the  note  he  longed  for  his  self-invited  visitors.  It 
ran  thus: — 

"Dear  Miss  Fountain — David  has  found  out  the  genealogy.  He 
says  there  is  no  doubt  you  came  from  the  Fountains  of  Melton,  and  he 
can  prove  it.  He  has  proved  it  to  me,  and  I  am  none  the  wiser.  So,  as 
David  is  obliged  to  go  away  to-morrow,  I  think  the  best  way  is  for  me  to 
bring  him  over  with  the  papers  to-night.  We  will  come  at  eight,  unless 
you  have  company." 

*'  He  is  a  worthy  young  man,"  shouted  Mr.  Fountain. 
"What  o'clock  is  it.?" 

*'  Very  nearly  eight.  Oh,  uncle,  I  am  so  glad.  How 
pleased  you  will  be!" 

The  Dodds  arrived  soon  after,  and  while  tea  was 
going  on  David  spread  his  parchments  on  the  table,  and 
submitted  his  proofs.  He  had  eked  out  the  other 
evidence  by  means  of  a  series  of  leases.  The  three 
fields  that  went  with  Font  Abbey  had  been  let  a  great 
many  times,  and  the  landlord's  name.  Fountain  in  the 
latter  leases,  was  Fontaine  in  those  of  remoter  date. 
David  even  showed  his  host  the  exact  date  at  which  the 
change  of  orthography  took  place.  **  You  are  a  shrewd 
young  gentleman,"  cried  Mr.  Fountain  gleefully. 
David  then  asked  him  what  were  the  names  of  his  three 


LOVE  ME  LONG  183 

meadows.     The  names  of  them  ?  he  did  n't  know  they 
had  any. 

"  No  names  ?  why,  there  is  n't  a  field  in  England  that 
has  n't  its  own  name,  sir.     I  noticed  that  before  I  went 
to  sea."     He  then  told  Mr.  Fountain  the  names  of  his 
three  meadows,  and  curious  names  they  were;  two  of 
them  were  a  great  deal  older  than  William  the  Con- 
queror.    David  wrote  them  on  a  slip  of  paper.     He 
then  produced  a  chart.     '*  What  is  that,  Mr.  David  ?" 
**A  map  of  the  Melton  estate,  sir." 
"  Why,  how  on  earth  did  you  get  that .?" 
**  An  old  shipmate  of  mine  lives  in  that  quarter;  got 
him  to  make  it  for  me.     Overhaul  it,  sir;  you  will  find 
the  Melton  estate  has  got  all  your  three  names  within  a 
furlong  of  the  mansion-house." 

**From  this  you  infer " 

"That  one  of  that  house  came  here  and  brought  the 
E  along  with  him  that  has  got  dropped  somehow  since, 
and  being  so  far  from  his  birthplace,  he  thought  he 
would  have  one  or  two  of  the  old  names  about  him. 
What  will  you  bet  me,  he  has  n't  shot  more  than  one 
brace  of  partridges  on  those  fields  about  Melton  when 
he  was  a  boy  ?  So  he  christened  your  three  fields  afresh, 
and  the  new  names  took:  likely  he  made  a  point  of  it 
with  the  people  in  the  village.  For  all  that,  I  have 
found  one  old  fellow,  who  stands  out  against  them  to 
this  day  —  his  name  is  Newel.  He  will  persist  in  calling 
the  field  next  to  your  house  Snap  Witcheloe.  *That  is 
what  my  grand-dad  alius  named  it,'  says  he,  'and  that 
is  the  name  it  went  by  afore  there  was  ever  a  Fountain 
in  this  ere  parish.*  I  have  looked  in  the  Parish  Regis- 
ter, and  I  see  Newel's  grandfather  was  born  in  1690. 
Now,  sir,  all  this  is  not  mathematical  proof;  but  when 


184  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

you  come  to  add  it  to  your  own  direct  proofs  that  carry 
you  within  a  cable's  length  of  port  Fontaine,  it  is  very 
convincing;  and,  not  to  pay  out  too  much  yarn,  I  '11  bet 
—  my  head  —  to  a  china  orange " 

"David,  don't  be  vulgar." 

"Never  mind,  Mr.  Dodd  —  be  yourself." 

"Well  then,  to  serve  Eve  out,  I  '11  bet  her  head  (and 
that  is  a  better  one  than  mine),  to  a  china  orange,  that 
Fontaine  and  Fountain  are  one,  and  that  the  first 
Fontaine  came  over  here  from  Melton  more  than  130 
years  ago,  and  less  than  140,  when  Newel's  grandfather 
was  a  young  man." 

''  Probatum  esty^'  shouted  old  Fountain,  his  eyes 
sparkling,  his  voice  trembling  with  emotion.  Miss 
Fontaine,"  said  he,  turning  to  Lucy,  throwing  a  sort  of 
pompous  respect  into  his  voice  and  manner,  "you  shall 
never  marry  any  man  that  cannot  give  you  as  good  a 
home  as  Melton  and  quarter  as  good  a  coat-of-arms 
with  you  as  your  own,  the  *Founteyns.'  "  David's 
heart  took  a  chill,  as  if  an  ice-arrow  had  gone  through  it. 
"So  join  me  to  thank  our  young  friend  here." 

Mr.  Fountain  held  out  his  hand.  David  gave  his 
mechanically  in  return,  scarcely  knowing  what  he  did. 
"  You  are  a  worthy  and  most  intelligent  young  man,  and 
you  have  made  an  old  man  as  happy  as  a  lord,"  said  the 
old  gentleman,  shaking  him  warmly. 

"And  there  is  my  hand,  too,"  said  Lucy,  putting  out 
hers,  with  a  blush,  ^'  to  show  you  I  bear  you  no  malice — 
for  being  more  unselfish  and  more  sagacious  than  us  all.'* 
Instantly  David's  cold  chill  fled  unreasonably;  his 
cheeks  burned  with  blushes,  his  eyes  glowed,  his  heart 
thumped,  and  the  delicate  white,  supple,  warm,  velvet 
hand  that  nestled  in  his,  shot  electric  tremors  through  his 


LOVE  ME  LONG  185 

whole  frame,  when  ghded,  with  well-bred  noiselessness 
through  the  open  door  —  Mr.  Talboys  —  and  stood  look- 
ing yellow  at  that  ardent  group,  and  the  massive,  yet 
graceful,  bare  arm  stretched  across  the  table,  and  the 
white  hand  melting  into  the  brown  one. 

Whilst  he  stood  staring,  David  looked  up  and  caught 
that  strange,  that  yellow  look.  Instantly  a  light  broke 
in  on  him.  ''So  I  should  look,"  felt  David,  **if  I  saw 
her  hand  in  his."  He  held  Lucy's  hand  tight;  (she 
was  just  beginning  to  withdraw  it),  and  glared  from  his 
seat  on  the  new  comer  like  a  lion  ready  to  spring.  Eve 
read  and  turned  pale;  she  knew  what  was  in  the  man's 
blood. 

Lucy  now  quietly  withdrew  her  hand,  and  turned 
with  smiling  composure  toward  the  new  comer,  and 
Mr.  Fountain  thrust  a  minor  anxiety  between  the 
passions  of  the  rivals.  He  rose  hastily  and  went  to 
Talboys,  and  under  cover  of  a  warm  welcome,  took 
care  to  let  him  know  Miss  Dodd  had  been  kind 
enough  to  invite  herself  and  David.  He  then  ex- 
plained with  uneasy  animation  what  David  had  done 
for  him. 

Talboys  received  all  this  with  marked  coldness ;  but 
it  gave  him  time  to  recover  his  self-possession.  He 
shook  hands  with  Lucy,  all  but  ignored  David  and  Eve, 
and  quietly  assumed  the  part  of  principal  personage;  he 
then  spoke  to  Lucy  in  a  voice  tuned  for  the  occasion  to 
give  the  impression  that  confidential  communication 
was  not  unusual  between  him  and  her.  He  apologised, 
scarce  above  a  whisper,  for  not  having  come  to  dinner 
on  her  last  day. 


186  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"But  after  dinner,"  said  he,  '*my  brother  seemed 
fatigued.  I  treacherously  recommended  bed.  You 
forgive  me  ?  The  nabob  instantly  acted  on  my  selfish 
hint,  I  mounted  my  horse,  and  me  voila."  In  short,  in 
two  minutes  he  had  retaliated  tenfold  on  David.  As  for 
Lucy,  she  was  a  good  deal  amused  at  this  sudden  public 
assumption  of  a  tenderness  the  gentleman  had  never 
exhibited  in  private,  but  a  little  mortified  at  his  parade 
of  mysterious  familiarity;  still,  for  a  certain  female 
reason,  she  allowed  neither  to  appear,  but  wore  an  air 
of  calm  cordiality,  and  gave  Talboys  his  full  swing. 

David,  seated  sore  against  his  will  at  another  table, 
whither  Mr.  Fountain  removed  him  and  parchments, 
on  pretence  of  inspecting  the  leases,  listened  with  hear- 
ing preternaturally  keen  —  listened  and  writhed. 

His  back  was  toward  them.  At  last  he  heard  Talboys 
propose  in  murmuring  accents  to  accompany  her  the 
first  stage  of  her  journey.  She  did  not  answer  directly, 
and  that  second  was  an  age  of  anguish  to  poor  David. 

When  she  did  answer,  as  if  to  compensate  for  her 
hesitation,  she  said  with  alacrity,  "I  shall  be  delighted; 
it  will  vary  the  journey  most  agreeably;  I  will  ride  the 
pony  you  were  so  kind  as  to  give  me." 

The  letters  swam  before  David's  eyes. 

Lucy  came  to  the  table,  and  standing  close  behind 
David,  so  close  that  he  felt  her  pure  cool  breath  mingle 
with  his  hair,  said  to  her  uncle,  "Mr.  Talboys  pro- 
poses to  me  to  ride  the  first  stage  to-morrow;  if  I  do, 
you  must  be  of  the  party." 

**  Oh !  must  I  ?  well  I  '11  roll  after  you  in  my  phaeton." 

At  this  moment  Eve  could  bear  no  longer  the  anguish 
on  David's  beloved  face.  It  made  her  hysterical,  she 
could  hardly  command  herself;  she  rose  hastily,  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  187 

saying,  "We  must  not  keep  you  up,  the  night  before  a 
journey,"  took  leave  with  David.  As  he  shook  hands 
with  Lucy,  his  imploring  eye  turned  full  on  hers,  and 
sought  to  dive  into  her  heart.  But  that  soft  sapphire 
eye  was  unfathomable;  it  was  like  those  dark-blue 
southern  waters  that  seem  to  reveal  all,  yet  hide  all,  so 
deep  they  are,  though  clear. 

Eve.     "Thank  heaven,  we  are  safe  out  of  the  house." 
David,     **I  have  got  a  rival." 

Eve.  "A  pretty  rival;  she  does  n't  care  a  button  for 
him." 

David.     "He  rides  the  first  stage  with  her." 
Eve.  "Well!  what  of  that.?" 
David.  "I  have  got  a  rival." 

David  was  none  of  your  lie-a-beds.  He  rose  at  five 
in  summer,  six  in  winter,  and  studied  hard  till 
breakfast-time.  After  that  he  was  at  every  fool's 
service.  This  morning  he  did  not  appear  at  the 
breakfast-table,  and  the  servant  had  not  seen  him  about. 
Eve  ran  upstairs  full  of  anxiety.  He  was  not  in  his 
room.  The  bed  had  not  been  slept  in;  the  impress  of 
his  body  outside  showed,  however,  that  he  had  flung 
himself  down  on  it  to  snatch  an  uneasy  slumber. 

Eve  sent  the  girl  into  the  village  to  see  if  she  could 
find  him,  or  hear  tidings  of  him.  The  girl  ran  out  with- 
out her  bonnet,  partaking  her  mistress's  anxiety,  but 
did  not  return  for  nearly  half-an-hour,  that  seemed  an 
age  to  Eve.  The  girl  had  lost  some  time  by  going  to 
Josh.  Grace  for  information.  Grace's  house  stood  in 
an  orchard ;  so  he  was  the  unlikeliest  man  in  the  village 
to  have  seen  David.     She  set  against  this  trivial  circum- 


188  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

stance  the  weighty  one  that  he  was  her  sweetheart,  and 
went  to  him  first. 

"I  han't  a-sin  him,  Sue;  thee  hadst  better  ask  at  the 
blacksmith's  shop,"  said  Joshua  Grace. 

Susan  profited  by  this  hint,  and  learned  at  the  black- 
smith's shop  that  David  had  gone  by  up  the  road  about 
six  in  the  morning,  walking  very  fast.  She  brought 
the  news  to  Eve. 

"Toward  Royston.P" 

"Yes,  miss,  but  la!  he  won't  ever  think  to  go  all  the 
way  to  Roys  ton  —  without  his  breakfast." 

"That  will  do,  Susan.  I  think  I  know  what  he  is 
gone  for." 

On  the  servant  retiring,  her  assumed  firmness  left  her. 

"On  the  road  she  is  to  travel!  and  his  rival  with  her. 
What  mad  act  is  he  going  to  do  ?  Heaven  have  mercy 
on  him,  and  me,  and  her!" 

Eve  knew  what  was  in  the  man's  blood.  She  sat 
trembling  at  home  till  she  could  bear  it  no  longer;  she 
put  on  her  bonnet  and  sallied  out  on  the  road  to  Royston, 
determined  to  stop  the  carriage,  profess  to  have  business 
at  Royston,  and  take  a  seat  beside  Mr.  Fountain.  She 
felt  that  the  very  sight  of  her  might  prevent  David 
from  committing  any  great  rashness  or  folly.  On 
reaching  the  high  road  she  observed  a  fresh  track  of 
narrow  wheels  that  her  rustic  experience  told  her  could 
only  be  those  of  a  four-wheeled  carriage;  and,  making 
inquiries,  she  found  she  was  too  late;  carriage  and 
riders  had  gone  on  before. 

Her  heart  sank.  Too  late  by  a  few  minutes,  but 
somehow  she  could  not  turn  back;  she  walked  as  fast 
as  she  could  after  the  gay  cavalcade,  a  prey  to  one  of 
those  female  anxieties  we  have  all  laughed  at  as  extra va- 


LOVE  ME  LONG  189 

gant,  proved  unreasonable,  and  sometimes  found 
prophetic. 

Meantime  Lucy  and  Mr.  Talboys  cantered  gaily 
along.  Mr.  Fountain  rolled  after  in  a  phaeton;  the 
travelling-carriage  came  last.  Lucy  was  in  spirits: 
motion  enlivens  us  all,  but  especially  such  of  us  as  are 
vi^omen.  She  had  also  another  cause  for  cheerfulness, 
that  may  perhaps  transpire.  Her  two  companions  and 
unconscious  dependents  were  governed  by  her  mood; 
she  made  them  larks  to-day,  as  she  had  owls  for  some 
weeks  past,  last  night  excepted.  She  would  fall  back 
every  now  and  then  and  let  Uncle  Fountain  pass  her; 
then  come  dashing  up  to  him,  and  either  pull  up  short 
with  a  piece  of  solemn  information  like  an  aide-de-camp 
from  headquarters,  or  pass  him  shooting  a  shaft  of 
raillery  back  into  his  chariot,  whereat  he  would  rise  with 
mock  fury  and  yell  a  repartee  after  her.  Fountain 
found  himself  good  company  —  Talboys  himself.  It 
was  not  the  lady;  oh  dear  no!  it  never  is. 

At  last  all  seemed  so  bright,  and  Mr.  Talboys  found 
himself  so  agreeable,  that  he  suddenly  recalled  his  high 
resolve  not  to  pop  in  a  county  desecrated  by  Dodds. 
"I  '11  risk  it  now,"  said  he,  and  he  rode  back  to  Fountain 
and  imparted  his  intention,  and  the  senior  nearly 
bounded  off  his  seat;  he  sounded  the  charge  in  a 
stage  whisper,  because  of  the  coachman — ^''At  her 
at  once!" 

"Secret  conference.?  hum!"  said  Lucy,  twisting  her 
pony,  and  looking  slily  back. 

Mr.  Talboys  rejoined  her,  and  after  a  while  began 
in  strange  melodious  accents,  "You  will  leave  a 
blank " 

"Shall  we  canter?"  said  Lucy  gaily,  and  off  went 


190  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  pony.  Talboys  followed,  and  at  the  next  hill 
resumed  the  sentimental  cadence. 

**  You  will  leave  a  sad  blank  here.  Miss  Fountain." 

*'No  greater  than  I  found,"  replied  the  lady  inno- 
cently (?)  "Oh,  dear!"  she  cried,  with  sudden  interest, 
*'I  am  afraid  I  have  dropped  my  comb."  She  felt 
under  her  hat.  [No,  viper !  you  have  not  dropped  your 
comb,  but  you  are  feeling  for  a  large  black  pin  with 
a  head  to  it;  there,  you  have  found  it,  and  taken  it  out 
of  your  hair,  and  got  it  hid  in  your  hand  —  what  is  that 
for.?] 

"Ten  times  greater,"  moaned  the  honeyed  Talboys; 
"for  then  we  had  not  seen  you.  Ah!  my  dear  Miss 
Fountain the  devil!  wo-ho,  Goliath!" 

For  the  pony  spilt  the  treacle.  He  lashed  out  both 
heels  with  a  squeak  of  amazement  within  an  inch  of 
Mr.  Talboys'  horse,  who  instantly  began  to  rear,  and 
plunge,  and  snort.  While  Talboys,  an  excellent 
horseman,  was  calming  his  steed,  Lucy  was  condoling 
with  hers."  Dear  little  naughty  fellow!"  said  she, 
patting  him  ["I  did  it  too  hard."] 

"As  I  was  saying,  the  blessing  we  have  never  enjoyed 
we  do  not  miss ;  but  now  that  you  have  shone  upon  us, 
what  can  reconcile  us  to  lose  you,  unless  it  be  the  hope 
that hallo!" 

Lucy.  "Ah!" 

The  pony  was  off  with  a  bound  like  a  buck.  She 
had  found  out  the  right  depth  of  pin  this  time.  "Ah! 
where  is  my  whip  ?  I  have  dropped  it  —  how  careless." 
Then  they  had  to  ride  back  for  the  whip,  and  by  this 
means  joined  Mr.  Fountain.  Lucy  rode  by  his  side 
and  got  the  carriage  between  her  and  her  beau.  By 
this  plan  she  not  only  evaded  sentiment,  but  matured 


LOVE  ME  LONG  191 

by  a  series  of  secret  trials  her  skill  with  her  weapon. 
Armed  with  this  new  science  she  issued  forth,  and 
whenever  Mr.  Talboys  left  off  indifferent  remarks  and 
sounded  her  affections,  she  probed  the  pony,  and  he 
kicked  or  bolted  as  the  case  might  require. 

"Confound  that  pony,"  cried  Talboys,  *'he  used  to 
be  quiet  enough." 

"Oh,  don't  scold  him,  dear  playful  little  love.  He 
carries  me  like  a  wave." 

At  this  simple  sentence  Talboys's  dormant  jealousy 
contrived  to  revive.  He  turned  sulky,  and  would  not 
waste  any  more  tenderness,  and  presently  they  rattled 
over  the  stones  of  Roys  ton.  Lucy  commended  her 
pony  with  peculiar  earnestness  to  the  ostler.  "Pray, 
groom  him  well  and  feed  him  well,  sir;  he  is  a  love." 
The  ostler  swore  he  would  not  wrong  her  ladyship's 
nag  for  the  world. 

Lucy  then  expressed  her  desire  to  go  forward  without 
delay,  "Aunt  will  expect  me."  She  took  her  seat  in  the 
carriage,  bade  a  kind  farewell  to  both  the  gentlemen 
now  that  no  tender  answer  was  possible,  and  was 
whirled  away. 

Thus  the  coy  virgin  eluded  the  pair. 

Now  her  manner  in  taking  leave  of  Talboys  was  so 
kind,  so  smiling  (in  the  sweet  consciousness  of  having 
baffled  him),  that  Fountain  felt  sure  it  all  had  gone 
smoothly.     They  were  engaged. 

"Well.^"  he  cried,  with  great  animation. 

"No,"  was  the  despondent  reply. 

"Refused.?"  screeched  the  other;  "impossible!" 

"No,  thank  you,"  was  the  haughty  reply. 

"What  then.?  did  you  change  your  mind,  didn't 
you  propose  after  all.?" 


192  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

'*I  could  n't.  That pony  would  n't  keep  still!" 

Fountain  groaned. 

Lucy,  left  to  herself,  gave  a  little  sigh  of  relief.  She 
had  been  playing  a  part  for  the  last  twenty-four  hours. 
Her  cordiality  with  Mr.  Talboys  naturally  misled  Eve 
and  David,  and  perhaps  a  male  reader  or  two.  Shall 
I  give  the  clue  ?  it  may  be  useful  to  you  young  gentle- 
men. Well,  then,  her  sex  are  compounders.  Accus- 
tomed from  childhood  never  to  have  anything  entirely 
their  own  way,  they  are  content  to  give  and  take.  And 
these  terms  once  accepted,  it  is  a  point  of  honour  and 
tact  with  them  not  to  let  a  creature  see  the  irksome 
part  of  the  bargain  is  not  as  delicious  as  the  other  —  one 
coat  of  their  own  varnish  goes  over  the  smooth  and 
the  rough,  the  bitter  and  the  sweet. 

Now  Lucy,  besides  being  singularly  polite  and  kind, 
was  femme  jusqu'au  des  ongles.  If  her  instincts  had 
been  reasons,  and  her  vague  thoughts  could  have  been 
represented  by  anything  so  definite  as  words,  the  result 
might  have  appeared  thus: 

"A  few  short  hours  and  you  can  bore  me  no  more, 
Mr.  Talboys.  Now,  what  must  I  do  for  you  in  return  ? 
Seem  not  to  be  bored  to-day?  mais  c'est  la  moindre  des 
choses.  —  Seem  to  be  "pleased  with  your  society?  Why 
not  ?  it  is  only  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  my  seeming  to 
like  it  will  not  prolong  it.  My  heart  swells  with  happi- 
ness at  the  thought  of  escaping  from  you,  good  bore! 
you  shall  share  my  happiness,  good  bore.  It  is  so  kind 
of  you  not  to  bore  me  to  all  eternity." 

This  was  why  the  last  night  she  sat  like  Patience  on 
an  ottoman  smiling  on  Talboys,  and  racking  David's 
heart.     And  this  was  why  she  made  the  ride  so  pleasant 


LOVE  ME  LONG  193 

to  those  she  was  at  heart  glad  to  leave,  till  they  tried 
sentiment  on,  and  then  she  was  an  eel  directly,  pony 
and  all. 

Lucy  (sola),  "That  is  over.  Poor  Mr.  Talboys! 
Does  he  fancy  he  has  an  attachment?  No;  I  please 
and  I  am  courted  wherever  I  go,  but  I  have  never  been 
loved.  If  a  man  loved  me  I  should  see  it  in  his  face,  I 
should  feel  it  without  a  word  spoken.  Once  or  twice 
I  fancied  I  saw  it  in  one  man's  eyes;  they  seemed  Hke 
a  lion's  that  turned  to  a  dove's  as  they  looked  at  me." 
Lucy  closed  her  own  eyes,  and  recalled  her  impression, 
*'It  must  have  been  fancy;  ought  I  to  wish  to  inspire 
such  a  passion  as  others  have  inspired.?  No!  for  I 
could  never  return  it.  The  very  language  of  passion 
in  romances  seems  so  extravagant  to  me.  Yet  so  beau- 
tiful. It  is  hard  I  should  not  be  loved  merely  because 
I  cannot  love.  Many  such  natures  have  been  adored. 
I  could  not  bear  to  die  and  not  be  loved  as  deeply  as 
ever  woman  was  loved.  I  must  be  loved,  adored,  and 
worshipped:  it  would  be  so  sweet  —  sweet!"  She 
slowly  closed  her  eyes,  and  the  long,  lovely  lashes 
drooped,  and  a  celestial  smile  parted  her  lips  as  she 
fell  into  a  vague  delicious  reverie.  Suddenly  the 
carriage  stopped  at  the  foot  of  a  hill.  She  opened 
her  eyes,  and  there  stood  David  Dodd  at  the  carriage 
window. 

Lucy  put  her  head  out.  "Why,  it  is  Mr.  Dodd. 
Oh,  Mr.  Dodd,  is  there  anything  the  matter.?" 

"No." 

"You  look  so  pale." 

"Do  I .?"  and  he  flushed  faintly. 

"  Which  way  are  you  going  ?  " 


194  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"I  am  going  home  again  now,"  said  David  sorrow- 
fully. 

"You  came  all  this  way  to  bid  me  good-bye?" 
and  she  arched  her  eyebrows  and  laughed  —  a  little 
uneasily. 

'*It  did  n't  seem  a  step.  It  will  seem  longer  going 
back." 

*'  No,  no,  you  shall  ride  back;  my  pony  is  at  the  White 
Horse,  will  you  not  ride  my  pony  back  for  me  ?  then  I 
shall  know  he  will  be  kindly  used;  a  stranger  would 
whip  him." 

"I  should  think  my  arm  would  wither  if  I  ill-used 
him." 

"You  are  very  good.  I  suppose  it  is  because  you  are 
so  brave." 

"Me  brave .P  I  don't  feel  so.  Am  I  to  tell  him  to 
drive  on.?"  and  he  looked  at  her  with  haggard  and 
imploring  eyes. 

Her  eyes  fell  before  his. 

"Good-bye,  then,"  said  she. 

He  cried  with  a  choking  voice  to  the  postillion,  "  Go 
ahead." 

The  carriage  went  on  and  left  him  standing  in  the 
road,  his  head  upon  his  breast. 

At  the  steepest  part  of  the  hill  a  trace  broke,  and  the 
driver  drew  the  carriage  across  the  hill  and  shouted  to 
David.  He  came  running  up,  and  put  a  large  stone 
behind  each  wheel. 

Lucy  was  alarmed.     "Mr.  Dodd!  let  me  out." 

He  handed  her  out.  The  post-boy  was  at  a  non-pluSy 
but  David  whipped  a  piece  of  cord  and  a  knife  out  of 
his  pocket,  and  began  with  great  rapidity  and  dexterity 
to  splice  the  trace. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  195 

"Ah!  now  you  are  pleased,  Mr.  Dodd;  our  mis- 
fortune will  elicit  your  skill  in  emergencies." 

"Oh,  no!  it  isn't  that;  it  is  —  I  never  hoped  to  see 
you  again  so  soon." 

Lucy  coloured,  and  her  eyes  sought  the  ground:  the 
splice  was  soon  made. 

"There,"  said  David,  "I  could  have  spent  an  hour 
over  it;  but  you  would  have  been  vexed,  and  the  bitter 
moment  must  have  come  at  last." 

"God  bless  you.  Miss  Fountain  —  oh!  may  n't  I  say 
Miss  Lucy  to-day.?"  he  cried  imploringly. 

"Of  course  you  may,"  said  Lucy,  the  tears  rising  in 
her  eyes  at  his  sad  face  and  beseeching  look.  "Oh, 
Mr.  Dodd,  parting  with  those  we  esteem  is  always  sad 
enough;  I  got  away  from  the  door  without  crying — 
for  once;  don't  you  make  me  cry!" 

"  Make  you  cry .?  "  cried  David,  as  if  he  had  been  sus- 
pected of  sacrilege,  "God  forbid!"  He  muttered  in  a 
choking  voice,  "You  give  the  word  of  command,  for  I 
can't." 

"You  can  go  on,"  said  her  soft,  clear  voice;  but  first 
she  gave  David  her  hand  with  a  gentle  look — 
"Good-bye." 

But  David  could  not  speak  to  her;  he  held  her  hand 
tight  in  both  his  powerful  hands  —  they  seemed  iron  to 
her,  shaking,  trembling,  grasping  iron.  The  carriage 
went  slowly  on,  and  drew  her  hand  away.  She  shrank 
into  a  corner  of  the  carriage;  he  frightened  her. 

He  followed  the  carriage  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  then 
sat  down  upon  a  heap  of  stones,  and  looked  despairingly 
after  it. 

Meantime  Lucy  put  her  head   in  her  hands  and 


196  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

blushed,  though  she  was  all  alone.  *'How  dare  he 
forget  the  distance  between  us  ?  Poor  fellow !  have  not 
I  at  times  forgotten  it  ?  I  am  worse  than  he.  I  lost  my 
self-possession.  I  should  have  checked  his  folly;  he 
knows  nothing  of  les  convenances.  He  has  hurt  my 
hand,  he  is  so  rough;  I  feel  his  clutch  now.  There,  I 
thought  so,  it  is  all  red  —  poor  fellow.  Nonsense;  he 
is  a  sailor;  he  knows  nothing  of  the  world  and  its  cus- 
toms. Parting  with  a  pleasant  acquaintance  for  ever 
made  him  a  little  sad. 

**He  is  all  nature;  he  is  like  nobody  else:  he  shows 
every  feeling  instead  of  concealing  it,  that  is  all.  He 
has  gone  home,  I  hope."  She  glanced  hastily  back. 
He  was  sitting  on  the  stones,  his  arms  drooping,  his 
head  bowed,  a  picture  of  despondency.  She  put  her 
face  in  her  hands  again  and  pondered,  blushing  higher 
and  higher.  Then  the  pale  face  that  had  always  been 
ruddy  before,  the  simple  grief  and  agitation,  the  manly 
eye  that  did  not  know  how  to  weep,  but  was  so  clouded 
and  troubled,  and  wildly  sad;  the  shaking  hands  that 
had  clutched  hers  like  a  drowning  man's  (she  felt  them 
still),  the  quivering  features,  choked  voice,  and  trem- 
bling lip,  all  these  recoiled  with  double  force  upon 
her  mind;  they  touched  her  far  more  than  sobs  and 
tears  would  have  done,  her  sex's  ready  signs  of 
shallow  grief. 

Two  tears  stole  down  her  cheeks. 

*'If  he  would  but  go  home  and  forget  me!"  she 
glanced  hastily  back.  David  was  climbing  up  a  tree, 
active  as  a  cat.  *'He  is  like  nobody  else  —  he!  he!  — 
Stay,  is  that  to  see  the  last  of  me  ?  the  very  last  —  poor 


LOVE  ME  LONG  197 

soul!  Madman!  How  will  this  end?  What  can  come  of 
it  but  misery  to  him,  remorse  to  me  ?  " 

*'  This  is  love."  She  half  closed  her  eyes  and  smiled ; 
repeating,   "This   is   love." 

**Oh!  howl  despise  all  the  others,  and  their  feeble  • 
flatteries!" 

"Heaven  forgive  me  my  mad,  my  wicked  wish!" 

"I  am  beloved." 

"I  am  adored." 

"I  am  miserable!" 

As  soon  as  the  carriage  was  out  of  sight,  David  came 
down  and  hurried  from  the  place.  He  found  the  pony 
at  the  inn.  The  ostler  had  not  even  removed  his 
saddle. 

"Methought  that  ostler  did  protest  too  much," 
David  kissed  the  saddle  and  the  pommels,  and  the  bridle 
her  hand  had  held,  and  led  the  pony  out.  After  walking 
a  mile  or  two  he  mounted  the  pony  —  to  sit  in  her  seat, 
not  for  ease;  walking  thirty  miles  was  nothing  to  this 
athlete;  sticking  on  and  holding  on  with  his  chin  on 
his  knee  was  rather  fatiguing. 

Meantime  Eve  walked  on  till  she  was  four  miles  from 
home.  No  David.  She  sat  down  and  cried  a  little 
space;  then  on  again.  She  had  just  reached  an  angle 
in  the  road,  when  —  clatter !  clatter !  —  David  came  can- 
tering round  with  his  knee  in  his  mouth.  Eve  gave 
a  joyful  scream,  and  up  went  both  her  hands  with  sud- 
den delight.  At  the  double  shock  to  his  senses,  the 
pony  thought  his  end  was  come,  and  perhaps  the  world's. 
He  shied  slap  into  the  hedge  and  stuck  there  —  alone; 
for  his  rider  swaying  violently  the  reverse  way,  the  girths 


198  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

burst,  the  saddle  peeled  off  the  pony's  back,  and  David 
sat  gripping  the  pommel  in  the  middle  of  the  road  at 
Eve's  feet,  looking  up  in  her  face  with  an  uneasy  grin, 
while  dust  arose  around  him  in  a  little  column.  Eve 
screeched,  and  screeched,  and  screeched;  then  fell  to 
with  a  face  as  red  as  a  turkey-cock's,  and  beat  David 
furiously,  and  hurt  —  her  little  hands. 

David  laughed.  This  incident  did  him  good;  shook 
him  up  a  bit.  The  pony  grovelled  out  of  the  ditch  and 
cantered  home,  squeaking  at  intervals  and  throwing 
his  heels. 

David  got  up,  twisted  the  side-saddle  on  to  his 
square  shoulders,  and  keeping  it  there  by  holding  the 
girths,  walked  with  Eve  toward  Font  Abbey.  She 
was  now  a  little  ashamed  of  her  apprehensions;  and, 
besides,  when  she  leathered  David,  she  was,  in  her  own 
mind,  serving  him  out  for  both  frights.  At  all  events 
she  did  not  scold  him,  but  kindly  inquired  his  adven- 
tures, and  he  told  her  what  he  had  done  and  said,  and 
what  Miss  Fountain  had  said. 

The  account  disappointed  Eve.  "All  this  is  just  a 
pack  of  nothing,"  said  she.  *'It  is  two  lovers  parting, 
or  it  is  two  common  friendly  acquaintances ;  all  depends 
on  how  it  was  done,  and  that  you  don't  tell  me."  Then 
she  put  several  subtle  questions  as  to  the  looks  and 
tones,  and  manner  of  the  young  lady.  David  could  not 
answer  them:  on  this  she  informed  him  he  was  a  fool. 

**So  I  begin  to  think,"  said  he. 

"There,  be  quiet,"  said  she,  "and  let  me  think  it 
over." 

"Ay!  ay!"  said  he. 

Whilst  he  was  being  quiet  and  letting  her  think,  a 
carriage  came  rapidly  up  behind  them,  with  a  horseman 


LOVE  ME  LONG  199 

riding  beside  it,  and  as  the  pedestrians  drew  aside,  an 
ironical  voice  fell  upon  them,  and  the  carriage  and  horse- 
man stopped,  and  floured  them  with  dust. 

Messrs.  Talboys  and  Fountain  took  a  stroll  to  look 
at  the  new  gaol  that  was  building  in  Royston,  and  as 
they  returned,  Talboys,  whose  wounded  pride  had  now 
fermented,  told  Mr.  Fountain  plainly  that  he  saw  noth- 
ing for  it  but  to  withdraw  his  pretensions  to  Miss  1 
Fountain. 

"My  own  feelings  are  not  sufiiciently  engaged  for 
me  to  play  the  up-hill  game  of  overcoming  her 
disinclination." 

"Disinclination.?  the  mere  shyness  of  a  modest  girl. 
If  she  was  to  be  'won  unsought,'  she  would  not  be 
worthy  to  be  Mrs.  Talboys." 

"Her  worth  is  indisputable,"  said  Mr.  Talboys, 
"but  that  is  no  reason  why  I  should  force  upon  her  my 
humble  claims." 

The  moment  his  friend's  pride  began  to  ape  humility. 
Fountain  saw  the  wound  it  had  received  was  incurable. 
He  sighed  and  was  silent.  Opposition  would  only 
have  set  fire  to  opposition. 

They  went  home  together  in  silence.  On  the  road 
Talboys  caught  sight  of  a  tall  gentleman  carrying  a 
side-saddle,  and  a  little  lady  walking  beside  him.  He 
recognised  his  bete  noir  with  a  grim  smile.  Here  at 
least  was  one  he  had  defeated  and  banished  from  the 
fair.  What  on  earth  was  the  man  doing  ?  Oh,  he  had 
been  giving  his  sister  a  ride  on  a  donkey,  and  they 
had  met  with  an  accident.  Mr.  Talboys  was  in  a 
humour  for  revenge;  so  he  pulled  up,  and  in  a  some- 
what bantering  voice  inquired  where  was  the  steed  ? 


200  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Oh,  he  is  in  port  by  now,  said  David. 

"Do  you  usually  ease  the  animal  of  that  part  of  his 
burden,  sir?" 

"No,"  said  David  sullenly. 

Eve,  who  hated  Mr.  Talboys,  and  saw  through  his 
sneers,  bit  her  lip,  and  coloured,  but  kept  silence. 

But  Mr.  Talboys,  unwarned  by  her  flashing  eye, 
proceeded  with  his  ironical  interrogatory,  and  then  it 
was  that  Eve,  reflecting  that  both  these  gentlemen  had 
done  their  worst  against  David,  and  that  henceforth 
the  battlefield  could  never  again  be  Font  Abbey,  decided 
for  revenge.  She  stepped  forward  like  an  airy  sylph 
between  David  and  his  persecutor,  and  said,  with  a 
charming  smile,  "I  will  explain,  sir." 

Mr.  Talboys  bowed,  and  smiled. 

"The  reason  my  brother  carries  this  saddle  is  that 
it  belongs  to  a  charming  young  lady  —  you  have  some 
little  acquaintance  with  her  —  Miss  Fountain." 

"Miss  Fountain.?"  cried  Talboys,  in  a  tone  from 
which  all  the  irony  was  driven  out  by  Eve's  coup. 

"She  begged  David  to  ride  her  pony  home;  she 
would  not  trust  him  to  anybody  else." 

"Oh.?"  said  Talboys,  stupefied. 

"Well,  sir,  owing  to  —  to  —  an  accident,  the  saddle 
came  off,  and  the  pony  ran  home;  so  then  David  had 
only  her  saddle  to  take  care  of  for  her." 

"Why,  we  escorted  Miss  Fountain  to  Roys  ton,  and 
we  never  saw  Mr.  Dodd." 

"Ay,  but  you  did  not  go  beyond  Royston,"  said  Eve 
with  a  cunning  air. 

" Beyond  Royston ?  where.?  and  what  was  he  doing 
there  ?  did  he  go  all  that  way  to  take  her  orders  about 
her  pony?"  said  Talboys  bitterly. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  201 

"Oh,  as  to  that  you  must  excuse  me,  sir,"  cried 
Eve,  with  a  scornful  laugh;  "that  is  being  too  in- 
quisitive—good morning;"  and  she  carried  David  off 
in  triumph. 

The  next  moment  Mr.  Talboys  spurred  past  her 
again,  followed  by  the  phaeton.  Talboys'  face  was 
yellow. 

"Zo  langue  (Tune  femme  est  son  ep^e." 

"Sheer  off  and  repair  damages,  ye  lubber,"  said 
David  drily,  "and  don't  come  under  our  guns  again 
or  we  shall  blow  you  out  of  the  water  —  hum!  Eve, 
wasn't  your  tongue  a  little  too  long  for  your  teeth 
just  now.?" 

"Not  an  inch." 

"  She  might  be  vexed :  it  is  not  for  me  to  speak  of  her 
kindness  to  others." 

"Temper  won't  let  a  body  see  everything.  I'll  tell 
you  what  I  have  done  too;  I've  declared  war." 

"Have you  ?  then  run  the  Jack  up  to  the mizzen-top, 
and  let  us  fight  it  out." 

"  That  is  the  way  to  look  at  it,  David ;  now  don't  you 
speak  to  me  till  we  get  home  —  let  me  think." 

At  the  gate  of  Font  Abbey  they  parted,  and  Eve  went 
home.  David  came  to  the  stable-yard,  and  hailed, 
"Stable  a-hoy!"  Out  ran  a  little  bandy-legged  groom. 
"The  craft  has  gone  adrift,"  cried  David,  "but  I've  got 
the  gear  safe:  stow  it  away";  and  as  he  spoke  he 
chucked  the  saddle  a  distance  of  some  six  yards  on  to 
the  bandy-legged  groom,  who  instantly  staggered  back 
and  sank  on  a  little  dunghill,  and  there  sat,  saddled, 
with  two  eyes  like  saucers,  looking  stupefied  surprise 
between  the  pommels. 


202  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

**It  is  you  for  capsizing  in  a  calm,"  remarked  David, 
with  some  surprise,  and  went  his  way. 

"Well,  Eve,  have  you  thought ?" 

**  Yes,  David,  I  was  a  little  hasty;  that  puppy  would 
provoke  a  saint.  After  all  there  is  no  harm  done,  they 
can't  hurt  us  much  now.  It  is  not  here  the  game  will 
be  played  out.  Now,  tell  me,  when  does  your  ship 
sail.?" 

"It  wants  just  five  weeks  to  a  day." 

"Does    she    take   up    her    passengers    at   as 

usual.?" 

"Yes,  Eve,  yes." 

"And  Mrs.  Bazalgette  lives  within  a  mile  or 
ipf  of  .  You  have  a  good  excuse  for  accept- 
ing her  invitation.  Stay  your  last  week  in  her 
house.  There  will  be  no  Talboys  to  come  between 
you.  Do  all  a  man  can  do  to  win  her  in  that 
week." 

"I  will." 

"And  if  she  says  *no,'  be  man  enough  to  tear  her 
out  of  your  heart." 

"I  can't  tear  her  out  of  my  heart,  but  I  will  win  her, 
I  must  win  her.  I  can't  live  without  her.  A  month  to 
wait!" 


Mr,  Talboys.  "  Well,  sir,  what  do  you  say 
now.?" 

Mr.  Fountain  (hypocritically;.  "I  say  that  your 
sagacity  was  superior  to  mine;  forgive  me  if  I  have 
brought  you  into  a  mortifying  collision.  To  be  defeated 
by  a  merchant-sailor."  He  paused  to  see  the  effect  of 
his  poisoned  shaft. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  203 

Talhoys.  But  I  am  not  defeated.  I  will  not  be 
defeated.  It  is  no  longer  a  personal  question.  For 
your  sake,  for  her  sake,  I  must  save  her  from  a  degrad- 
ing connection:  I  will  accompany  you  to  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette's.     When  shall  we  go.?" 

*'  Well,  not  immediately,  it  would  look  so  odd.  The 
old  one  would  smell  a  rat  directly.  Suppose  we  say  in 
a  month's  time." 

"Very  well,  I  shall  have  a  clear  stage." 

"Yes,  and  I  shall  then  use  all  my  influence  with  her. 
Hitherto  I  have  used  none." 

"Thank  you!  Mr.  Dodd  cannot  penetrate  there,  I 
conclude." 

"Of  course  not." 

"Then  she  will  be  Mrs.  Talboys." 

"Of  course  she  will." 

Lucy  cried  a  little  over  David's  ardent  despairing 
passion,  and  his  pale  and  drawn  face.  Her  woman's 
instinct  enabled  her  to  comprehend  in  part  a  passion  she 
was  at  this  period  of  her  life  incapable  of  feeling,  and 
she  pitied  him.  He  was  the  first  of  her  admirers  she 
had  ever  pitied.  She  sighed  a  little;  then  fTetted  a 
little;  then  reproached  herself  vaguely.  "I  must  have 
been  guilty  of  some  imprudence :  given  some  encourage- 
ment. Have  I  failed  in  womanly  reserve.?  or  it  is  all 
his  fault  ?  He  is  a  sailor.  Sailors  are  like  nobody  else. 
He  is  so  simple-minded.  He  sees,  no  doubt,  that  he 
is  my  superior  in  all  sterling  qualities,  and  that  makes 
him  forget  the  social  distance  between  him  and  me. 
And  yet  why  suspect  him  of  audacity  ?  poor  fellow,  he 
had  not  the  courage  to  say  anything  to  me,  after  all. 
No ;  he  will  go  to  sea,  and  forget  his  folly  before  he  comes 


204  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

back."  Then  she  had  a  gust  of  egotism.  It  was  nice 
to  be  loved  ardently  and  by  a  hero,  even  though  that 
hero  was  not  a  gentleman  of  distinction,  scarcely  a 
gentleman  at  all.  The  next  moment  she  blushed  at 
her  own  vanity.  Next  she  was  seized  with  a  sense  of 
the  great  indelicacy  and  unpardonable  impropriety  of 
letting  her  mind  run  at  all  upon  a  person  of  the  other 
sex;  and  shaking  her  lovely  shoulders,  as  much  as  to 
say,  "Away,  idle  thoughts,"  she  nestled  and  fitted  with 
marvellous  suppleness  into  a  corner  of  the  carriage,  and 
sank  into  a  sweet  sleep,  with  a  red  cheek,  two  wet  eye- 
lashes, and  a  half  smile  of  the  most  heavenly  character 
imaginable.  And  so  she  glided  along  till  at  five  in  the 
afternoon  the  carriage  turned  in  at  Mr.  Bazalgette's 
gates.  Lucy  lifted  her  eyes,  and  there  was  quite  a 
little  group  standing  on  the  steps  to  receive  her,  and 
waving  welcome  to  the  universal  pet.  There  was  Mr. 
Bazalgette,  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  and  two  servants;  and  a 
little  in  the  rear  a  tall  stranger  of  gentleman-like 
appearance. 

The  two  ladies  embraced  one  another  so  rapidly, 
yet  so  smoothly,  and  so  dove-tailed  and  blended,  that 
they  might  be  said  to  flow  together  and  make  one  in  all 
but  colour,  like  the  Saone  and  the  Rhone.  After  half-a- 
dozen  kisses  given  and  returned  with  a  spirit  and 
rapidity,  from  which,  if  we  male  spectators  of  these 
ardent  encounters  were  wise,  we  might  slily  learn  a 
lesson.  Aunt  Bazalgette  suddenly  darted  her  mouth  at 
Lucy's  ear,  and  whispered  a  few  words  with  an  ani- 
mation that  struck  everybody  present.  Lucy  smiled  in 
reply.  After  "the  meeting  of  the  muslins,"  Mr.  Bazal- 
gette shook  hands  warmly,  and  at  last  Lucy  was  intro- 
duced  to   his   friend   Mr.    Hardie,   who   expressed   in 


LOVE  ME  LONG  205 

courteous  terms  his  hopes  that  her  journey  had  been  a 
pleasant  one. 

The  animated  words  Mrs.  Bazalgette  whispered  into 
Lucy's  ear  at  that  moment  of  burning  affection  were  as 
follows  — 

**You  have  had  it  washed." 

Lucy  (unpacking  her  things  in  her  bedroom).  "  Who 
is  Mr.  Hardie,  dear .?" 

"What,  don't  you  know.?  Mr.  Hardie  is  the  great 
banker." 

'*  Only  a  banker  ?  I  should  have  taken  him  for  some- 
thing far  more  distinguished.  His  manner  is  good. 
There  is  a  suavity  without  feebleness  or  smallness." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette's  eyes  flashed,  but  she  answered  with 
apparent  nonchalance.  '*I  am  glad  you  like  him;  you 
will  take  him  off  my  hands  now  and  then.  He  must  not 
be  neglected ;  Bazalgette  would  murder  us :  a  propos, 
remind  me  to  ask  him  to  tell  you  Mr.  Hardie's  story,  and 
how  he  comes  to  be  looked  up  to  like  a  prince  in  this 
part  of  the  world,  though  he  is  only  a  banker  —  with 
only  ten  thousand  a  year." 

**You  make  me  quite  curious,  aunt.  Cannot  you 
tell  me.?" 

*'Me?  oh  dear,  no;  paper  currency!  foreign  loans! 
government  securities!  gold  mines!  ten  per  cents.! 
Mr.  Peel !  and  who  one  breaks  and  another  does  n't !  all 
that  is  quite  beyond  me.  Bazalgette  is  your  man.  I 
had  no  idea  your  mousseline-de-laine  would  have 
washed  so  well.  Why,  it  looks  just  out  of  the  shop;  it 
"     Come  away,  reader,  for  heaven's  sake! 


CHAPTER  XI 

The  man  whom  Mr.  Bazalgette  introduced  so  smoothly 
and  off-hand  to  Lucy  Fountain  exercised  a  terrible 
influence  over  her  life,  as  you  will  see  by-and-by.  This 
alone  would  make  it  proper  to  lay  his  antecedents  before 
the  reader.  But  he  has  independent  claims  to  this 
notice;  for  he  is  a  principal  figure  in  my  work.  The 
history  of  this  remarkable  man's  fortunes  is  a  study. 
The  progress  of  his  mind  is  another,  and  its  past  as  well 
as  its  future  are  the  very  corner-stone  of  that  capacious 
story  which  I  am  now  building  brick  by  brick,  after 
my  fashion  where  the  theme  is  large.  I  invite  my 
reader,  therefore,  to  resist  the  natural  repugnance 
delicate  minds  feel  to  the  ring  of  the  precious  metals, 
and  for  the  sake  of  the  coming  story  to  accompany  me 
into 

An  Old  Bank 

The  Hardies  were  goldsmiths  in  the  seventeenth 
century;  and  when  that  business  split,  and  the  deposit 
and  bill  of  exchange  business  went  one  way,  and  the 
plate  and  jewels  another,  they  became  bankers  from 
father  to  son.  A  peculiarity  attended  them:  they 
never  broke,  nor  even  cracked.  Feu  James  Hardie 
conducted  for  many  years  a  smooth,  unostentatious 
and  lucrative  business.  It  professed  to  be  a  bank  of 
deposit  only,  and  not  of  discount.  This  was  not  strictly 
rue.     There  never  was  a  bank  in  creation  that  did  not 

206 


LOVE  ME  LONG  207 

discount  under  the  rose,  when  the  paper  represented 
commercial  effects,  and  the  endorsers  were  customers 
and  favourites.  But  Mr.  Hardie's  main  business  was 
in  deposits  bearing  no  interest.  It  was  of  that  nature 
known  as,  "The  legitimate  banking  business,"  a  title 
not,  I  think,  invented  by  the  customers,  since  it  is  a 
system  destitute  of  that  reciprocity  which  is  the  soul 
of  all  just  and  legitimate  commercial  relations. 

You  shall  lend  me  your  money  gratis,  and  I  will 
lend  it  out  at  interest;  such  is  legitimate  banking — 
in  the  opinion  of  bankers. 

This  system,  whose  decay  we  have  seen  and  whose 
death  my  young  readers  are  like  to  see,  flourished  under 
old  Hardie,  green — as  the  public  in  whose  pockets  its 
roots  were  buried. 

Country  gentlemen  and  noblemen,  and  tradesmen 
well-to-do  left  floating  balances  varying  from  seven, 
five,  three  thousand  pounds,  down  to  a  hundred  or  two, 
in  his  hands.  His  art  consisted  in  keeping  his  coun- 
tenance, absorbing  them  with  the  air  of  a  person  con- 
ferring a  favour,  and  investing  the  bulk  of  them  in 
government  securities,  which  in  that  day  returned  four 
and  five  per  cent.  As  he  did  not  pay  one  shilling  for 
the  use  of  the  capital,  he  pocketed  the  whole  interest. 
A  small  part  of  the  aggregate  balance  was  not  invested, 
but  remained  in  the  bank  coffers,  as  a  reserve  to  meet 
any  accidental  drain.  It  was  a  point  of  honour  with 
the  squires  and  rectors,  who  shared  their  incomes  with 
him  in  a  grateful  spirit,  never  to  draw  their  balances 
down  too  low;  and  more  than  once  in  this  banker's 
career  a  gentleman  has  actually  borrowed  money  for 
a  month  or  two  of  the  bank  at  four  per  cent,  rather 
than  exhaust  his  deposit;  or,  in  other  words,  paid  his 


208  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

debtor  interest  for  the  temporary  use  of  his  own  ever- 
lasting property.  Such  capitaHsts  are  not  to  be  found 
in  our  day;  they  may  reappear  at  the  Millennium. 

The  banker  had  three  clerks ;  one  a  youth  and  very 
subordinate,  the  other  two  steady  old  men,  at  good 
salaries,  who  knew  the  affairs  of  the  bank,  but  did  not 
chatter  them  out  of  doors,  because  they  were  allowed 
to  talk  about  them  to  their  employer;  and  this  was  a 
vent.  The  tongue  must  have  a  regular  vent  or 
random  explosions — choose!  Besides  the  above  com- 
pliment paid  to  years  of  probity  and  experience,  the 
ancient  regime  bound  these  men  to  the  interest  and 
person  of  their  chief  by  other  simple  customs  now 
no  more. 

At  each  of  the  four  great  festivals  of  the  Church  they 
dined  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardie,  and  were  feasted, 
and  cordially  addressed  as  equals,  though  they  could 
not  be  got  to  reply  in  quite  the  same  tone.  They  were 
never  scorned;  but  a  peculiar  warmth  of  esteem  and 
friendship  was  shown  them  on  these  occasions.  One 
reason  was,  the  old-fangled  banker  himself  aspired  to 
no  higher  a  character  than  that  of  a  man  of  business, 
and  were  not  these  clerks  men  of  business  good  and 
true.?  his  staff,  not  his  menials. 

And  since  I  sneered  just  now  at  a  vital  simplicity, 
let  me  hasten  to  own  that  here  at  least  it  was  wise,  as 
well  as  just  and  worthy.  Where  men  are  for  ever 
handling  heaps  of  money,  it  is  prudent  to  fortify  them 
doubly  against  temptation — ^with  self-respect,  and  a 
suflBcient  salary. 

It  is  one  thing  not  to  be  led  into  temptation  (accident 
on  which  half  the  virtue  in  the  world  depends),  another 
to  live  in  it,  and  overcome  it.     And  in  a  bank  it  is  not 


LOVE  ME  LONG  ^09 

the  conscience  only  that  is  tempted,  but  the  senses; 
piles  of  glittering  gold,  amiable  as  Hesperian  fruit; 
heaps  of  silver  paper  that  seem  to  whisper  as  they  rustle 
"think  how  great  we  are,  yet  see  how  little":  we  are 
fifteen  thousand  pounds,  yet  we  can  go  into  your  pocket: 
whip  us  up,  and  westward  ho !  If  you  have  not  courage 
for  that,  at  all  events  wet  your  finger;  a  dozen  of  us 
will  stick  to  it.  That  pen  in  your  hand  has  but  to 
scratch  that  book  there,  and  who  will  know  ?  Besides 
you  can  always  put  us  back,  you  know. 

Hundreds  of  men  take  a  share  in  the  country's 
public  morality,  legislate,  build  churches,  and  live  and 
die  respectable,  who  would  be  jail-birds  sooner  or  later 
if  their  sole  income  was  the  pay  of  a  banker's  clerk, 
and  their  eyes  and  hands  and  souls  rubbed  daily  against 
hundred  pound  notes  as  his  do.  I  tell  you  it  is  a  temp- 
tation of  forty-devil  power. 

Not  without  reason,  then,  did  this  ancient  banker 
bestow  some  respect  and  friendship  on  those  who, 
tempted  daily,  brought  their  hands  pure,  Christmas 
after  Christmas,  to  their  master's  table.  Not  without 
reason  did  Mrs.  Hardie  pet  them  like  princes  at  the 
great  festivals,  and  always  send  them  home  in  the 
carriage  as  persons  their  entertainers  delighted  to  hon- 
our. Herein  I  suspect  she  looked  also,  woman-like, 
to  their  security;  for  they  were  always  expected  to  be 
solemnly  not  improperly  intoxicated  by  the  end  of 
supper;  nowise  fuddled,  but  muddled.  For  the  grace- 
ful superstition  of  the  day  suspected  severe  sobriety  at 
solemnities  as  churlish  and  ungracious. 

The  bank  itself  was  small  and  grave  and  a  trifle 
dingy,  and  bustle  there  was  none  in  it ;  but  if  the  stream 
of  business  looked  sluggish,  and  narrow,  it  was  deep, 


210  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

and  quietly  incessant,  and  tended  all  one  way,  to  enrich 
the  proprietor  without  a  farthing  risked. 

Old  Hardie  had  sat  there  forty  years  with  other 
people's  money  overflowing  into  his  lap  as  it  rolled 
deep  and  steady  through  that  little  counting-house, 
when  there  occurred,  or  rather  recurred,  in  this  nation 
a  phenomenon,  which  comes  round  with  some  little 
change  of  features,  in  a  certain  cycle  of  commercial 
changes,  as  regularly  as  the  month  of  March  in  the 
year,  or  the  neap  tides,  or  the  harvest  moon;  and  at 
each  visit  takes  the  country  by  surprise. 


CHAPTER  XII 

The  nation  had  passed  through  the  years  of  exhaustion 
and  depression  that  follow  a  long  war;  its  health  had 
returned,  and  its  elastic  vigour  was  already  reviving, 
when  two  remarkable  harvests  in  succession,  and  an 
increased  trade  with  the  American  continent,  raised 
it  to  prosperity.  One  sign  of  vigour,  the  roll  of  capital, 
was  wanting;  speculation  was  fast  asleep. 

The  government  of  the  day  seems  to  have  observed 
this  with  regret.  A  writer  of  authority  on  the  subject 
says  that,  to  stir  stagnant  enterprise,  they  directed  "the 
Bank  of  England  to  issue  about  four  millions  in  ad- 
vances to  the  state,  and  in  enlarged  discounts."  I  give 
you  the  man's  words;  they  doubtless  carry  a  significa- 
tion to  you,  though  they  are  jargon  in  a  fog  to  me. 
Some  months  later  the  government  took  a  step  upon 
very  different  motives,  which  incidentally  had  a  power- 
ful effect  in  loosening  capital  and  setting  it  in  agitation. 
They  reduced  to  four  per  cent,  the  Navy  Five  per  Cents, 
a  favourite  national  investment,  which  represented  a 
capital  of  two  hundred  millions.  Now  when  men 
have  got  used  to  five  per  cent,  from  a  certain  quarter, 
they  cannot  be  content  with  four,  particularly  the  small 
holders;  so  this  reduction  of  the  Navy  Five  per  Cents, 
unsettled  several  thousand  capitalists  and  disposed 
them  to  search  for  an  investment.  A  flattering  one 
offered  itself  in  the  nick  of  time.  Considerable  atten- 
tion had  been  drawn  of  late  to  the  mineral  wealth  of 
South   America,   and   one   or  two   mining  companies 

211 


212  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

existed,  but  languished  in  the  hands  of  professed 
speculators.  The  public  now  broke  like  a  sudden 
flood  into  these  hitherto  sluggish  channels  of  enter- 
prise, and  up  went  the  shares  to  a  high  premium. 
Almost  cotemporaneously  numerous  joint-stock  com- 
panies were  formed,  and  directed  toward  schemes  of 
internal  industry.  The  small  capitalists  that  had 
sold  out  of  the  Navy  Five  per  Cents,  threw  themselves 
into  them  all,  and  being  bona  fide  speculators  drew 
hundreds  in  their  train.  Adventure,  however,  was  at 
first  restrained  in  some  degree  by  the  state  of  the 
currency.  It  was  low,  and  rested  on  a  singularly 
sound  basis.  Mr.  Peel's  Currency  Bill  had  been  some 
months  in  operation:  by  its  principal  provision  the 
Bank  of  England  was  compelled  on  and  after  a  certain 
date  to  pay  gold  for  its  notes  on  demand.  The  bank, 
anticipating  a  consequent  rush  for  gold,  had  collected 
vast  quantities  of  sovereigns,  the  new  coin;  but  the 
rush  never  came,  for  a  mighty  simple  reason:  Gold  is 
convenient  in  small  sums,  but  a  burden  and  a  nuisance 
in  large  ones.  It  betrays  its  presence  and  invites  rob- 
bers ;  it  is  a  bore  to  lug  it  about,  and  a  fearful  waste  of 
golden  time  to  count  it.  Men  run  upon  gold  only 
when  they  have  a  reason  to  distrust  paper.  But  Mr. 
Peel's  Bill,  instead  of  damaging  Bank  of  England 
paper,  solidified  it,  and  gave  the  nation  a  just  and 
novel  confidence  in  it.  Thus  then  the  large  hoard  of 
gold,  fourteen  to  twenty  millions,  that  the  caution  of  the 
bank  directors  had  accumulated  in  their  coffers,  re- 
mained uncalled  for.  But  so  large  an  abstraction  from 
the  specie  of  the  realm  contracted  the  provincial  cir- 
culation. The  small  business  of  the  country  moved  in 
fetters,  so  low  was  the  metal  currency.     The  country 


LOVE  ME<  LONG  213 

bankers  petitioned  government  for  relief,  and  govern- 
ment listening  to  representations  that  were  no  doubt 
supported  by  facts,  and  backed  by  other  interests,  tam- 
pered with  the  principle  of  Mr.  Peel's  Bill,  and  allowed 
the  country  bankers  to  issue  £1  and  £2  notes  for  eleven 
years  to  come.  To  this  step  there  were  but  six  dis- 
sentients in  the  House  of  Commons,  so  little  was  its 
importance  seen,  or  its  consequence  foreseen.  This 
piece  of  inconsistent  legislation  removed  one  restraint, 
irksome  but  salutary,  from  commercial  enterprise  at  a 
moment  when  capital  was  showing  some  signs  of  a 
feverish  agitation.  Its  immediate  consequences  were 
very  encouraging  to  the  legislator;  the  country  bankers 
sowed  the  land  broadcast  with  their  small  paper,  and 
this,  for  the  cause  above  adverted  to,  took  pro  tern,  the 
place  of  gold,  and  was  seldom  cashed  at  all  except 
where  silver  was  wanted.  On  this  enlargement  of 
the  currency  the  arms  of  the  nation  seemed  freed, 
enterprise  shot  ahead  unshackled,  and  unwonted 
energy  and  activity  thrilled  in  the  veins  of  the  king- 
dom. The  rise  in  the  prices  of  all  commodities 
which  followed,  inevitable  consequence  of  every  in- 
crease in  the  currency,  whether  real  or  fictitious,  was, 
in  itself,  adverse  to  the  working  classes;  but  the  vast 
and  numerous  enterprises  that  were  undertaken,  some 
in  the  country  itself,  some  in  foreign  parts  to  which 
English  workmen  were  conveyed,  raised  the  price  of 
labour  higher  still  in  proportion;  so  no  class  was  out 
of  the  sun. 

Men's  faces  shone  with  excitement  and  hope.  The 
dormant  hoards  of  misers  crept  out  of  their  napkins 
and  sepulchral  strong  boxes  into  the  warm  air  of  the 
golden  time.     The  mason's  chisel  chirped  all  over  the 


£14  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

kingdom,  and  the  shipbuilders'*  hammers  rang  all 
round  the  coast;  corn  was  plenty,  money  became  a 
drug,  labour,  wealth,  and  poverty  and  discontent  van- 
ished from  the  face  of  the  land.  Adventure  seemed  all 
wings,  and  no  lumbering  carcass  to  clog  it.  New  joint- 
stock  companies  were  started  in  crowds  as  larks  rise 
and  darken  the  air  in  winter  ;t  hundreds  came  to  noth- 
ing, but  hundreds  stood,  and  of  these  nearly  all  reached 
a  premium,  small  in  some  cases,  high  in  most,  fabulous 
in  some ;  and  the  ease  with  which  the  first  calls  for  cash 
on  the  multitudinous  shares  were  met,  argued  the  vast 
resources  that  had  hitherto  slumbered  in  the  nation  for 
want  of  promising  investments  suited  to  the  variety  of 
human  likings  and  judgments. 

The  mind  can  hardly  conceive  any  species  of  earthly 
enterprise  that  was  not  fitted  with  a  company,  oftener 
with  a  dozen,  and  with  fifty  or  sixty  where  the  pro- 
posed road  to  metal  was  direct.  Of  these  the  mines 
of  Mexico  still  kept  the  front  rank,  but  not  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  European,  Australian,  and  African  ore. 

That  masterpiece  of  fiction,  "the  Prospectus,"  J  dif- 
fused its  gorgeous  light  far  and  near,  lit  up  the  dark 
mine,  and  showed  the  minerals  shining  and  the  jewels 


*  Two  hundred  new  vessels  are  said  to  have  been  laid  on  the  stocks  in  one  year. 

t  In  two  years  624  new  companies  were  projected. 

t  There  is  a  little  unlicked  anonymuncule  going  scribbling  about,  whose  creed  seems  to 
be  that  a  little  camel  to  be  known  must  be  examined  and  compared  with  other  quadrupeds; 
but  that  the  great  arts  can  be  judged  out  of  the  depths  of  a  penny-a-liner's  inner  conscious- 
ness, and  to  be  rated  and  ranked  need  not  be  compared  inter  se.  Applying  the  microscope 
lo  the  method  of  the  novelist,  but  diverting  the  glass  from  the  learned  judge's  method 
in  Biography,  the  learned  historian's  method  in  History,  and  the  daily  chronicler's  method 
in  dressing  res  gestae  for  a  journal,  this  little  addlepate  has  jumped  to  a  comparative  esti- 
mate not  based  on  comparison:  so  that  all  his  blindfold  vituperation  of  a  noble  art  is 
chimera,  not  reasoning :  it  is,  in  fact,  a  retrograde  step  in  science  and  logic.  This  is  to 
evade  the  Baconian  method,  humble,  and  wise,  and  crawl  back  to  the  lazy  and  self- 
confldent  system  of  the  ancients  that  kept  the  world  dark  so  many  centuries.  It  is 
Ke^a^Mfiavreta  versus  Induction.  '''Ke(pa'XofiavTeui,"  ladies,  is  "divination  by  means  of 
an  ass's  skull."  A  pettifogger's  skull,  however,  will  serve  the  turn,  provided  that  petti- 
fogger has  been  bitten  with  an  insane  itch  for  scribbling  about  things  so  infinitely  above 


LOVE  ME  LONG  215 

peeping;  shone  broad  over  the  smiling  fields,  soon  to 
be  ploughed,  reaped,  and  mowed,  by  machinery,  and 
even  illumined  the  depths  of  the  sea,  whence  the  buried 
treasures  of  ancient  and  modern  times  were  about  to 
be  recovered  by  the  Diving-bell  Company. 

One  mine  was  announced  with  "a  vein  of  ore  as 
pure  and  solid  as  a  tin  flagon." 

In  another  the  prospectus  offered  mixed  advantages. 
The  ore  lay  in  so  romantic  a  situation,  and  so  thick, 
that  the  eye  could  be  regaled  with  a  heavenly  landscape, 
while  the  foot  struck  against  neglected  lumps  of  gold 
weighing  from  two  pounds  to  fifty. 

This  put  the  Bolanos  mine  on  its  mettle,  and  it 
announced  **not  mines,  but  mountains  of  silver." 
Here  then  men  might  chip  metal  instead  of  painfully 
digging  it.  With  this  up  went  the  shares  till  they 
reached  500  premium. 

Tlalpuxahua  was  done  at  199  premium. 

Anglo-Mexican  £  10  paid,  went  to  £  158  prem. 

United  Mexican  .         10  *'  155      ** 

Columbian  .         .         10  "  82     " 

But  the  Real  del  Monte,  a  mine  of  longer  standing, 
on  which  <£70  was  paid  up,  went  to  550  premium;  and 

his  capacity  as  the  fine  arts.  Avoid  this  sordid  dreamer,  and  follow  in  letters  as  in  science 
the  Baconian  method.  Then  you  will  find  that  all  uninspired  narratives  are  more  or  less 
inexact,  and  that  one,  and  one  only.  Fiction  proper,  has  the  honesty  to  antidote  its  errors 
by  professing  inexactitude.  You  will  find  that  the  Historian,  Biographer,  Novelist,  and 
Chronicler;  are  all  obliged  to  paint  upon  their  data  with  colours  the  imagination  alone  can 
supply,  and  all  do  it— alive  or  dead.  You  will  find  that  Fiction,  as  distinguished  from 
neat  mendacity,  has  not  one  form  upon  earth,  but  a  dozen  of  them;  you  will  find  the 
most  habitually,  wilfully,  and  inexcusably  inaccurate,  with  the  means  of  accuracy  under 
its  nose,  is  the  form  of  fiction  called  "anonymous  criticism,"  political  and  literary;  the 
most  equivocating,  perhaps,  is  the  "imaginavit,"  better  known  at  Lincoln's  Inn  as  the 
"affidavit."  In  the  article  of  exaggeration  the  mildest  and  tamest  are.  perhaps.  History 
and  the  Novel,  the  boldest  and  most  sparkling  is  the  Advertisement ;  but  the  grandest, 
ablest,  most  gorgeous,  and  plausibly  exaggerating,  is  surely  the  grave  commercial  proB- 
pcctus,  drawn  up  and  signed  by  potent,  grave,  and  reverend  ieniors,  who  fear  God, 
worship  Mammon,  revere  big  wigs  right  or  wrong,  and  never  read  romances. 


216  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

at  a  later  period,  for  I  am  not  following  the  actual 
sequence  of  events,  reached  the  enormous  height  of 
1350    premium. 

The  Prospectus  of  the  Equitable  Loan  Company 
lamented,  in  paragraph  one,  the  imposition  practised 
on  the  poor;  and  denounced  the  pawnbrokers'  15  per 
cent.  In  paragraph  four,  it  promised  40  per  cent, 
to   its   shareholders. 

Philanthropy  smiled  in  the  heading,  and  Avarice 
stung  in  the  tail.  No  wonder  a  royal  duke  and  other 
good  names  figured  in  this  concern.  Another  eloquent 
sheet  appealed  to  the  national  dignity.  Should  a 
nation  that  was  just  now  being  intersected  by  forty 
canal  companies,  and  lighted  by  thirty  gas  companies, 
and  every  life  in  it  worth  a  button  insured  by  a  score  of 
insurance  companies — dwell  in  hovels  ?  Here  was  a 
country  that,  after  long  ruling  the  Sea,  was  now  mining 
the  Earth,  and  employing  her  spoils  nobly,  lending 
money  to  every  nation  and  tribe  that  would  fight  for 
constitutional  liberty.  Should  the  principal  city  of  so 
sovereign  a  nation  be  a  collection  of  dingy  dwellings 
made  with  burnt  clay.?  No!  let  these  perishable  and 
ignoble  materials  give  way,  and  London  be  granite, 
or  at  least  wear  a  granite  front  —  with  which  up  went 
the  Red  Granite  Company. 

A  railway  was  projected  from  Dover  to  Calais,  but 
the  shares  never  came  into  the  market. 

The  Rhine  Navigation  shares  were  snapped  up 
directly.  The  original  holders,  having  no  faith  in  their 
own  paper,  sold  large  quantities  directly  for  the  account. 
But  they  had  underrated  the  ardour  of  the  public.  At 
settling  day  the  shares  were  at  28  premium,  and  the 
sellers  found  they  had  made  a  most  original  hedge. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  217 

For  "the  hedge"  is  not  a  daring  operation  that  grasps 
at  large  gains;  it  is  a  timid  and  cautious  manoeuvre 
whose  humble  aim  is  to  lower  the  figures  of  possible 
loss  or  gain.  To  be  ruined  by  a  stroke  of  caution  so 
shocked  the  directors'  sense  of  justice,  that  they  forged 
new  coupons  in  imitation  of  the  old,  and  tried  to  pass 
them  off.  The  fraud  was  discovered;  a  committee 
sat  on  it.  Respectables  quaked.  Finally  a  scapegoat 
was  put  forward,  and  expelled  the  Stock  Exchange,  and 
with  that  the  inquiry  was  hushed.  It  would  have  let 
too  much  daylight  in  on  a  host  of  "good  names"  in  the 
City  and  on  'Change. 

At  the  same  time  the  country  threw  itself  with  ardour 
into  transatlantic  loans.  This,  however,  was  an  exist- 
ing speculation  vastly  dilated  at  the  period  we  are  treat- 
ing, but  created  about  five  years  earlier.  Its  antecedent 
history  can  be  despatched  in  a  few  words. 

England  is  said  to  be  governed  by  a  limited  mon- 
archy; but  in  case  of  conflict  her  heart  goes  more  with 
unlimited  republic  than  with  genuine  monarchy.  The 
Spanish  colonies  in  South  America  found  this  out,  and 
in  their  long  battle  for  independence  came  to  us  for 
sympathy  and  cash.  They  often  obtained  both,  and 
in  one  case  something  more — we  lent  Chili  a  million 
at  six  per  cent.;  but  we  lent  her  ships,  bayonets,  and 
Cochrane,  gratis.  This  last,  a  gallant  and  amphibious 
dragoon,  went  to  work  in  a  style  the  slow  Spaniard  was 
unprepared  for;  blockaded  the  coast,  overawed  the 
royalist  party,  and  wrenched  the  state  from  the  mother 
country  and  settled  it  a  republic.  One  of  the  first 
public  acts  of  his  Chilian  republic  was  to  borrow  a 
million  of  us  to  go  on  with.  Peru  took  only  half  a 
million  at  this  period.     Columbia,  during  the  protracted 


218 


LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 


struggle  her  independence  cost  her,  obtained  a  sort  of 
carte  blanche  loan  from  us  at  10  per  cent.  We  are  to 
deliver  the  stock  in  munitions  of  war,  as  called  for, 
which,  you  will  observe,  was  selling  our  loan :  for  at 
the  bottom  of  all  our  romance  lies  business,  business, 
business.  Her  freedom  secured,  the  new  state  accom- 
modated us  by  taking  two  millions  at  five  per  cent,  stock 
at  84.  In  all,  about  ten  millions  nominal  capital, 
eight  millions  cash,  crossed  the  Atlantic  while  we  were 
cool,  but  now  that  we  were  heated  by  three  hundred 
joint-stock  companies,  and  the  fire  fanned  by  seven 
hundred  prospectuses,  fresh  loans  were  effected  with 
a  wider  range  of  territory  and  on  a  more  important  scale. 


Brazil  now  got 

.     X3,200,000  in  two  loans. 

Columbia 

4,750,000 

Peru 

1,366,000  in  two  loans. 

Mexico   .... 

6,400,000  in  two  loans. 

Buenos  Ayres 

1,000,000 

and  Guatemala,  a  state  we  never  heard  of  till  she  wanted 
money,  took  a  million  and  a  half.  Besides  these  there 
were  smaller  loans  lent  not  to  nations  but  to  tribes. 
So  hot  was  our  money  in  our  pockets  that  we  tried 
^200,000  on  Patagonia.  But  the  savages  could  not  be 
got  to  nail  us ;  which  was  the  more  to  be  regretted  as  we 
might  have  done  a  good  stroke  with  them:  could  have 
sent  the  stock  out  in  fishermen's  boots,  cocked  hats, 
beads.  Bibles,  and  army  misfits.  Europe  found  out 
there  existed  an  island  overflowing  with  faith  and  over- 
burdened with  money;  she  ran  at  us  for  a  slice  of  the 
latter.  We  lent  Naples  two  millions  and  a  half  at 
five  per  cent,  stock  92|.  Portugal  a  million  and  a  half 
at  87.  Austria  three  millions  and  a  half  at  82§.  Den- 
mark three  millions  and  a  half  at  three  per  cent,  stock 


LOVE  ME  LONG  219 

75 J.  Then  came  a  bonne  bouche.  The  subtle  Greek 
had  gathered  from  his  western  visitors  a  notion  of  the 
contents  of  Thucydides;  and  he  came  to  us  for  sym- 
pathy and  money  to  help  him  shake  off  the  barbarians 
and  their  yoke,  and  save  the  wreck  of  the  ancient 
temples.  The  appeal  was  shrewdly  planned.  Eng- 
land reads  Thucydides,  and  skims  Demosthenes, 
though  Greece,  it  is  presumed,  does  not.  The  im- 
pressions of  our  boyhood  fasten  upon  our  hearts,  and 
our  mature  reason  judges  them  like  a  father,  not  like 
a  judge.  To  sweep  the  Tartar  out  of  the  Peloponnese, 
and  put  in  his  place  a  free  press,  that  should  recall  from 
the  tomb  that  soul  of  freedom  and  revive  by  degrees 
that  tongue  of  music — ^who  can  play  Solomon  when 
such  a  proposal  comes  up  for  judgment  ? 

**Give  yourself  no  further  concern  about  the  mat- 
ter," said  the  lofty  Burdett,  with  a  gentleman-like  wave 
of  the  hand,  "your  country  shall  be  saved." 

"In  a  few  weeks,"  said  another  statesman, 
"Cochrane  will  be  at  Constantinople  and  burn  the  port 
and  its  vessels.  Having  thus  disarmed  invasion  he 
will  land  in  the  Morea  and  clear  it  of  the  Turks." 

Greece  borrowed  in  two  loans  £2,800,000  at  five 
per  cent.  Russia  (droll  juxtaposition!)  drew  up  the 
rear.  She  borrowed  three  millions  and  a  half,  but 
upon  far  more  favourable  terms  than,  with  all  our 
romance,  we  accorded  to^Grseculus  usuriens."  The 
Greek  stock  ruled  from  56^-59.  Into  all  these  loans 
and  the  multitudinous  mines  and  miscellaneous  enter- 
prises, gas,  railroad,  canal,  steam,  dock,  provision, 
insurance,  milk,  water,  building,  washing,  money-lend- 
ing, fishing,  lottery,  annuities,  herring-curing,  poppy 
oil,  cattle,  weaving,  bog-draining,  street-cleaning,  house- 


220  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

roofing,  old  clothes  exporting,  steel-making,  starch, 
silk-worm,  &c.  &c.,  &c.,  companies,  all  classes  of  the 
community  threw  themselves  either  for  investment,  or 
temporary  speculation  on  the  fluctuations  of  the  share 
market.  One  venture  was  ennobled  by  a  prince  of  the 
blood  figuring  as  a  director,  another  was  sanctified  by 
an  archbishop,  hundreds  were  solidified  by  the  best 
mercantile  names  in  the  cities  of  London,  Liverpool, 
and  Manchester.  Princes,  dukes,  duchesses,  stags, 
footmen,  poets,  philosophers,  divines,  lawyers,  physi- 
cians, maids,  wives,  widows,  tore  into  the  market  and 
choked  the  Exchange  up  so  tight  that  the  brokers  could 
not  get  in  nor  out,  and  a  bare  passage  had  to  be  cleared 
by  force  and  fines  through  a  mass  of  velvet,  fustian, 
plush,  silk,  rags,  lace,  and  broadcloth,  that  jostled  and 
squeezed  each  other  in  the  struggle  for  gain.  The 
shopkeeper  flung  down  his  scales  and  off  to  the  share 
market;  the  merchant  embarked  his  funds  and  his 
credit ;  the  clerk  risked  his  place  and  his  humble  respect- 
ability. High  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  all  hurried  round 
the  Exchange  like  midges  round  a  flaring  gaslight,  and 
all  were  to  be  rich  in  a  day. 

And,  strange  to  say,  all  seemed  to  win  and  none  to 
lose ;  for  nothing  was  at  a  discount  —  except  toil  and 
self-denial,  and  the  patient  industry  that  makes  men 
rich  —  but  not  in  a  day.  One  cold  misgiving  fell. 
The  vast  quantities  of  gold  and  silver  that  Mexico, 
mined  by  English  capital  and  machinery,  was  about 
to  pour  into  our  ports,  would  so  lower  the  price  of  those 
metals,  that  a  heavy  loss  must  fall  on  all  who  held  them 
on  a  considerable  scale  at  their  present  values  in  relation 
to  corn,  land,  labour,  and  other  propert-ies  and  com- 
modities. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  221 

"We  must  convert  our  gold,"  was  the  cry.  Others 
more  rash  said,  "This  is  premature  caution;  timidity. 
There  is  no  gold  come  over  yet;  wait  till  you  learn  the 
actual  bulk  of  the  first  metallic  imports."  "No,  thank 
you,"  replied  the  prudent  ones,  "it  will  be  too  late  then; 
when  once  they  have  touched  our  shores,  the  fall  will 
be  rapid."  So  they  turned  their  gold,  whose  value 
was  so  precarious,  into  that  unfluctuating  material, 
paper.  The  solitary  fear  was  soon  swallowed  up  in 
the  general  confidence.  The  king  congratulated  parlia- 
ment and  parliament  the  king.  Both  houses  rang  with 
trumpet-notes  of  triumph,  a  few  of  which  still  linger  in 
the  memories  of  living  men. 

1.  "The  cotton  trade  and  iron  trade  were  never  so 
flourishing." 

2.  "The  exports  surpassed  by  millions  the  highest 
figure  recorded  in  history." 

3.  "The  hum  of  industry  was  heard  throughout 
the  fields." 

4.  "Joy  beamed  in  every  face." 

5.  "The  country  now  reaped  in  honour  and  repose 
all  it  had  sown  in  courage,  constancy,  and  wisdom." 

6.  "Our  prosperity  extended  to  all  ranks  of  men, 
enhanced  by  those  arts  which  minister  to  human  com- 
fort; and  those  inventions  by  which  man  seems  to  have 
obtained  a  mastery  over  nature  through  the  application 
of  her  own  powers." 

But  one  honourable  gentleman  informed  the  Com- 
mons that  "distress  had  vanished  from  the  land";* 
and  in  addressing  the  throne  acknowledged  a  novel 
embarrassment:  "Such,"  said  he,  "is  the  general  pros- 
perity of  the  country  that  I  feel  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed; 

*  "The  poor  ye  shall  have  always  with  yoa."— Chimerical  Evangelist. 


222  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

whether  to  give  precedence  to  our  agriculture,  which 
is  the  main  support  of  the  country,  to  our  manufactures, 
which  have  increased  to  an  unexampled  extent,  or  to 
our  commerce,  which  distributes  them  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth,  finds  daily  new  outlets  for  their  distribution, 
and  new  sources  of  national  wealth  and  prosperity." 

Our  old  bank  did  not  profit  by  the  golden  shower. 
Mr.  Hardie  was  old  too,  and  the  cautious  and  steady 
habits  of  forty  years  were  not  to  be  shaken  readily. 
He  declined  shares,  refused  innumerable  discounts 
and  loans  upon  scrip  and  invoices,  and  in  short  was 
behind  the  time.  His  bank  came  to  be  denounced  as  a 
clog  on  commerce.  Two  new  banks  were  set  up  in  the 
town  to  oil  the  wheels  of  adventure  on  which  he  was  a 
drag,  and  Hardie  fell  out  of  the  game. 

He  was  not  so  old  nor  cold  as  to  be  beyond  the  reach 
of  mortification,  and  these  things  stung  him.  One  day 
he  said  fretfully  to  old  Skinner,  '*It  is  hardly  worth  our 
while  to  take  down  the  shutters  now  for  anything  we  do." 

One  afternoon  two  of  his  best  customers,  who  were 
now  up  to  their  chins  in  shares,  came  and  solicited  a 
heavy  loan  on  their  joint  personal  security.  Hardie 
declined.  The  gentlemen  went  out.  Young  Skinner 
watched  them  and  told  his  father  they  went  into  the 
new  bank,  stayed  there  a  considerable  time,  and  came 
out  looking  joyous.  Old  Skinner  told  Mr.  Hardie. 
The  old  gentleman  began  at  last  to  doubt  himself  and 
his  system. 

"The  bank  would  last  my  time,"  said  he,  "but  I 
must  think  of  my  son.  I  have  seen  many  a  good  busi- 
ness die  out  because  the  merchant  could  not  keep  up 
with  the  times;  and  here  they  are  inviting  me  to  be 


LOVE  ME  LONG  223 

director  in  two  of  their  companies  —  good  mercantile 
names  below  me.  It  is  very  flattering.  I  '11  write  to 
Dick.  It  is  just  he  should  have  a  voice;  but,  dear 
heart,  at  his  age,  we  know  beforehand  he  will  be  for 
galloping  faster  than  the  rest.  Well,  his  old  father  is 
alive  to  curb  him." 

It  was  always  the  ambition  of  Mr.  Richard  Hardie 
to  be  an  accomplished  financier.  For  some  years  past 
he  had  studied  money  at  home  and  abroad  —  scientifi- 
cally. His  father's  connection  had  gained  him  a  footing 
in  several  large  establishments  abroad,  and  there  he 
sat  and  worked  en  amateur  as  hard  as  a  clerk.  This 
zeal  and  diligence  in  a  young  man  of  independent  means 
soon  established  him  in  the  confidence  of  the  chiefs, 
who  told  him  many  a  secret.  He  was  now  in  a  great 
London  bank  pursuing  similar  studies  practical  and 
theoretical. 

He  received  his  father's  letters  sketching  the  rapid 
decline  of  the  bank,  and  finally  a  short  missive  inviting 
him  down  to  consider  an  enlarged  plan  of  business. 
During  the  four  days  that  preceded  the  young  man's 
visit,  more  than  one  application  came  to  Hardie  senior 
for  advances  on  scrip,  cargoes  coming  from  Mexico, 
and  joint  personal  securities  of  good  merchants  that 
were  in  the  current  ventures.  Old  Hardie  now,  instead 
of  refusing,  detained  the  proposals  for  consideration. 
Meantime  he  ordered  five  journals  daily  instead  of 
one,  sought  information  from  every  quarter,  and  looked 
into  passing  events  with  a  favourable  eye.  The  result 
was  that  he  blamed  himself,  and  called  his  past  caution 
timidity.  Mr.  Richard  Hardie  arrived  and  wa3  ushered 
into  the  bank  parlour.  After  the  first  affectionate 
greetings,  old  Skinner  was  called  in,  and,  in  a  little 


224  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

pompous  good-hearted  speech,  invited  to  make  one  in 
a  solemn  conference.  The  compUment  brought  the 
tears  into  the  old  man's  eyes.  Mr.  Hardie  senior 
opened,  showed  by  the  books  the  rapid  decHne  of  busi- 
ness, pointed  to  the  rise  of  two  new  banks  owing  to  the 
tight  hand  he  had  held  unseasonably;  then  invited  the 
other  two  to  say  whether  an  enlarged  system  was  not 
necessary  to  meet  the  times,  and  submitted  the  last 
proposals  for  loans  and  discounts:  "Now,  sir,  let  me 
have  your  judgment." 

"After  my  betters,  sir,"  was  old  Skinner's  reply. 

"Well,  Dick,  have  you  formed  any  opinion  on  this 
matter?" 

"I  have,  sir." 

"I  am  extremely  glad  of  it,"  said  the  old  gentleman 
very  sincerely,  but  with  a  shade  of  surprise;  "out  with 
it,  Dick." 

The  young  man  thus  addressed  by  his  father  would 
not  have  conveyed  to  us  the  idea  of  "Dick."  His  hair 
was  brown,  there  were  no  wrinkles  under  his  eyes,  or 
lines  in  his  cheek,  but  in  his  manner  there  was  no  youth 
whatever.  He  was  tall,  commanding,  grave,  quiet, 
cold,  and  even  at  that  age  almost  majestic.  His  first 
sentence,  slow  and  firm,  removed  the  paternal  notion 
that  a  cypher  or  a  juvenile  had  come  to  the  council 
table. 

"First,  sir,  let  me  return  you  my  filial  thanks  for  that 
caution  which  you  seem  to  think  has  been  excessive. 
There  I  beg  respectfully  to  differ  with  you." 

"I  am  glad  of  it,  Dick,  but  now  you  see  it  is  time  to 
relax,  eh!" 

"No,  sir." 

The  two  old  men  stared  at  one  another. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  225 

The  senile  youth  proceeded,  "That  some  day  or 
other  our  system  will  have  to  be  relaxed  is  probable; 
but  just  now  all  it  wants  is  —  tightening." 

"Why,  Dick  ?  Skinner,  the  boy  is  mad.  You  can't 
have  watched  the  signs  of  the  times." 

"I  have,  sir;  and  looked  below  the  varnish." 

"To  the  point  then,  Dick.  There  is  a  general  pro- 
posal 'to  relax  our  system,'  the  boy  uses  good  words, 
Skinner,  don't  he?  and  here  are  six  particulars  over 
which  you  can  cast  your  eye.  Hand  them  to  him, 
Skinner." 

"I  will  take  things  in  that  order,"  said  Richard, 
quietly  running  his  eye  over  the  papers.  There  was  a 
moment's  silence.  "It  is  proposed  to  connect  the  bank 
with  the  speculations  of  the  day." 

"That  is  not  fairly  stated,  Dick;  it  is  too  broad.  We 
shall  make  a  selection,  we  won't  go  in  the  stream  above 
ankle  deep." 

"That  is  a  resolution,  sir,  that  has  been  often  made 
but  never  kept,  for  this  reason,  you  can't  sit  on  dry 
land  and  calculate  the  force  of  the  stream.  It  carries 
those  who  paddle  in  it  off  their  feet  and  then  they  must 
swim  with  it,  or  sink." 

"Dick,  for  heaven's  sake,  no  poetry  here." 

"Nay,  sir,"  said  old  Skinner,  "remember  'twas  you 
brought  the  stream  in." 

"More  fool  I.  'Flow  on,  thou  shining  Dick/  only 
the  more  figures  of  arithmetic,  and  the  fewer  figures  of 
speech,  you  can  give  old  Skinner  and  me,  the  more 
weight  you  will  carry  with  us." 

The  young  man  coloured  a  moment,  but  never  lost 
his  ponderous  calmness. 

"I  will  give  you  figures  in  their  turn.     But  we  were 


226  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

to  begin  with  the  general  view.  Half  measures  then, 
are  no  measures;  they  imply  a  vacillating  judgment; 
they  are  a  vain  attempt  to  make  a  pound  of  rashness, 
and  a  pound  of  timidity,  into  two  pounds  of  prudence. 
You  permit  me  that  figure,  sir;  it  comes  from  the  sum- 
ming-book.  The  able  man  of  business  never  fidgets. 
He  keeps  quiet  or  carries  something  out." 

Old  Skinner  rubbed  his  hands.  "These  are  wise 
words,  sir." 

'*No,  only  clever  ones.  This  is  book-learning.  It 
is  the  sort  of  wisdom  you  and  I  have  outgrown  these 
forty  years.  Why,  at  his  age  I  was  chokeful  of  maxims. 
They  are  good  things  to  read,  but  act  proverbs,  and  into 
the  Gazette  you  go.  My  faith  in  any  general  position 
has  melted  away  with  the  snow  of  my  seventy  winters." 

"What,  then,  if  it  was  established  that  all  adders 
bite,  would  you  refuse  to  believe  this  adder  would 
bite  you,  sir.^" 

"Dick,  if  a  single  adder  bit  me  it  would  go  farther 
to  convince  me  the  next  adder  would  bite  me  too,  than 
if  fifty  young  Buffons  told  me  all  adders  bite." 

The  senile  youth  was  disconcerted  for  a  single  mo- 
ment. He  hesitated.  The  keys  that  the  old  man  had 
himself  said  would  unlock  his  judgment  lay  beside  him 
on  the  table;  he  could  not  help  glancing  slily  at  them, 
but  he  would  not  use  them  before  their  turn.  His 
mind  was  methodical.  His  will  was  strong  in  all 
things.  He  put  his  hand  in  his  side  pocket  and  drew 
out  a  quantity  of  papers  neatly  arranged,  tied  and 
indorsed. 

The  old  men  instantly  bestowed  a  more  watchful 
sort  of  attention  on  him. 

"This,    gentlemen,    is    a    list    of    the   joint-stocK 


LOVE  ME  LONG  227 

companies  created  last  year.  What  do  you  suppose 
is  their  number?" 

"Fifty,  I'll  be  bound,  Mr.  Richard." 

"More  than  that,  Skinner.     Say  eighty." 

"Two  hundred  and  forty-three,  gentlemen.  Of 
these  some  were  still-born,  but  the  majority  hold  the 
market.  The  capital  proposed  to  be  subscribed  on  the 
sum  total  is  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  millions." 

"Pheugh!  — Skinner!" 

"The  amount  actually  paid  at  present  (chiefly  in 
banknotes)  is  stated  at  £43,062,608,  and  the  balance 
due  at  the  end  of  the  year  on  this  set  of  ventures  will  be 
£204,937,392  or  thereabouts.  The  projects  of  this 
year  have  not  been  collected;  but  they  are  on  a  similar 
scale.  Full  a  third  of  the  general  sum  total  is  destined 
to  foreign  countries  either  in  loans  or  to  work  mines, 
&c.,  the  return  for  which  is  uncertain  and  future.  All 
these  must  come  to  nothing,  and  ruin  the  shareholders 
that  way ;  or  else  must  sooner  or  later  be  paid  in  specie, 
since  no  foreign  nation  can  use  our  paper,  but  must  sell 
it  to  the  Bank  of  England.  We  stand,  then,  pledged 
to  burst  like  a  bladder,  or  to  export  in  a  few  months 
thrice  as  much  specie  as  we  possess.  To  sum  up,  if 
the  nation  could  be  sold  to-morrow,  with  every  brick 
that  stands  upon  it,  the  proceeds  would  not  meet  the 
engagements  into  which  these  joint-stock  companies 
have  inveigled  her  in  the  course  of  twenty  months. 
Viewed,  then,  in  gross  under  the  test  not  of  poetry  and 
prospectus,  but  of  arithmetic,  the  whole  thing  is  a 
bubble." 

"A  Bubble .?"  uttered  both  the  seniors  in  one  breath, 
and  almost  in  a  scream. 

"But  I  am  ready  to  test  it  in  detail.     Let  us  take 


228  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

three  main  features  —  the  share  market,  the  foreign 
loans,  and  the  inflated  circulation  caused  by  the  pro- 
vincial banks.  Why  do  the  pubhc  run  after  shares  ? 
Is  it  in  the  exercise  of  a  healthy  judgment  ?  No ;  a  cun- 
ning bait  has  been  laid  for  human  weakness.  Trans- 
ferable shares  valued  at  ^100  can  be  secured  and  paid 
for  by  small  instalments  of  £5  or  less.  If,  then,  his 
dSlOO  shares  rise  to  .£130  each,  the  adventurer  can  sell 
at  a  nominal  profit  of  30  per  cent.,  but  a  real  profit  of 
600  per  cent,  on  his  actual  investment.  This  intoxi- 
cates rich  and  poor  alike.  It  enables  the  small  capitalist 
to  operate  on  the  scale  that  belongs,  in  healthy  times, 
to  the  large  capitalist;  a  beggar  can  now  gamble  like  a 
prince;  his  farthings  are  accepted  as  counters  for 
sovereigns ;  but  this  is  a  distinct  feature  of  all  the  more 
gigantic  bubbles  recorded.  Here  too,  you  see,  is  illusory 
credit  on  a  vast  scale,  with  its  sure  consequence,  inflated 
and  fictitious  values  —  another  bit  of  soap  that  goes 
to  every  bubble  in  history.  Now  for  the  transatlantic 
loans.  I  bring  them  to  a  fair  test.  Judge  nations  a?s 
you  would  individuals.  If  you  knew  nothing  of  a  man 
but  that  he  had  set  up  a  new  shop,  would  you  lend  him 
money  .^  Then  why  lend  money  to  new  republics,  of 
whom  you  know  nothing  but  that  born  yesterday  they 
may  die  to-morrow,  and  that  they  are  exhausted  by 
recent  wars,  and  that  where  responsibility  is  divided 
conscience  is  always  subdivided.?" 

"Well  said,  Richard,  well  said.'* 

**If  a  stranger  offered  you  thirty  per  cent,  would 
you  lend  him  your  money.?" 

**No;  for  I  should  know  he  did  n't  mean  to  pay." 

"Well,  these  foreign  negotiators  offer  nominally  five 
per  cent.,  but,  looking  at  the  price  of  the  stock,  thirty. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  229 

forty,  and  even  fifty  per  cent.  Yet  they  are  not  so 
liberal  as  they  appear,  they  could  afford  ninety  per 
cent.;  you  understand  me,  gentlemen.  Would  you 
lend  to  a  man  that  came  to  you  under  an  alias  like  a 
Newgate  thief  .^  Cast  your  eye  over  this  prospectus.  It 
is  the  Poyais  loan.     There  is  no  such  place  as  Poyais." 

"Good  heavens!  no  such  place !.?" 

"It  is  a  loan  to  an  anonymous  swamp  by  the  Mos- 
quito River.  But  Mosquito  suggests  a  bite.  So  the 
vagabonds  that  brought  the  proposal  over  put  their 
heads  together  as  they  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  christ- 
ened the  place  Poyais;  and  now  fools,  that  are  not 
fools  enough  to  lend  sixpence  to  Zahara,  are  going  to 
lend  .£200,000  to  rushes  and  reeds." 

"Why,  Richard,  what  are  you  talking  about  .^  *The 
air  is  soft  and  balmy;  the  climate  fructifying;  the  soil 
is  spontaneous,'  what  does  that  mean.^  mum!  mum! 
*The  water  runs  over  sands  of  gold.'  Why,  it  is  a 
description  of  Paradise.  And  now  I  think  of  it,  is  not 
all  this  taken  from  John  Milton .?" 

"Very  likely.     It  is  written  by  thieves." 

"It  seems  there  are  tortoiseshell,  diamonds, 
pearls " 

"In  the  prospectus,  but  not  in  the  morass.  It  is  a 
good  straightforward  morass  with  no  pretensions  but 
to  great  damp.  But  don't  be  alarmed,  gentlemen,  our 
countrymen's  money  will  not  be  swamped  there.  It 
will  all  be  sponged  up  in  Threadneedle  Street  by  the 
poetic  swindlers  whose  names,  or  aliases,  you  hold  in 
your  hand.  The  Greek,  Mexican,  and  Brazilian  loans 
may  be  translated  from  Prospectish  into  English,  thus, 
— ^At  a  date  when  every  sovereign  will  be  worth  five  to 
us  in  sustaining  shrivelling  paper  and  collapsing  credit, 


230  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

we  are  going  to  chuck  a  million  sovereigns  into  the 
Hellespont,  five  million  sovereigns  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  two  millions  into  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
Against  the  loans  to  the  old  monarchies  there  is  only 
this  objection,  that  they  are  unseasonable;  will  drain 
out  gold  when  gold  will  be  life-blood;  which  brings 
me,  by  connection,  to  my  third  item — the  provincial 
circulation.  Pray,  gentlemen,  do  you  remember  the 
year  1793?" 

For  some  minutes  past  a  dead  silence  and  a  deep 
absorbed  attention  had  received  the  young  man's  words ; 
but  that  quiet  question  was  like  a  great  stone  descending 
suddenly  on  a  silent  stream.  Such  a  noise,  agitation, 
and  flutter.  The  old  banker  and  his  clerk  both  began 
to  speak  at  once. 

"Don't  we.?" 

"O  Lord,  Mr.  Richard,  don't  talk  of  1793." 

**What  do  you  know  about  1793.?  you  weren't 
born." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Richard,  such  a  to-do,  sir!  1800  firms  in 
the  Gazette.     Seventy  banks  stopped." 

"Nearer  a  hundred,  Mr.  Skinner.  Seventy-one 
stopped  in  the  provinces  and  a  score  in  London." 

"Why,  sir,  Mr.  Richard  knows  everything,  whether 
he  was  born  or  not." 

"  No,  he  does  n't,  you  old  goose,  he  does  n't  know  how 
you  and  I  sat  looking  at  one  another  and  pretending  to 
fumble,  and  counting  out  slowly,  waiting  sick  at  heart 
for  the  sack  of  guineas  that  was  to  come  down  by  coach. 
If  it  had  not  come,  we  should  not  have  broken,  but  we 
should  have  suspended  payment  for  twenty-four  hours, 
and  I  was  young  enough  then  to  have  cut  my  throat  in 
the  interval," 


LOVE  ME  LONG  231 

"But  it  came,  sir,  it  came,  and  you  cried,  *Keep  the 
bank  open  till  midnight!'  and  when  the  blackguards 
heard  that,  and  saw  the  sack  full  of  gold  they  crept 
away;  they  were  afraid  of  offending  us.  Nobody  came 
a-nigh  us  next  day.  Banks  smashed  all  around  us  like 
glass  bottles,  but  Hardie  and  Co.  stood,  and  shall  stand 
for  ever  and  ever.     Amen." 

"Who  showed  the  white  feather,  Mr.  Skinner.?  who 
came  creeping  and  snivelling  and  took  my  hand  under 
the  counter,  and  pressed  it  to  give  me  courage,  and  then 
was  absurd  enough  to  make  apologies,  as  if  sympathy 
was  as  common  as  dirt }  Give  me  your  hand  directly, 
you  old hallo ! " 

"God  bless  you,  sir!  God  bless  you!  It  is  all  right, 
sir.  The  bank  is  safe  for  another  fifty  years.  We  have 
got  Master  Richard,  and  he  has  got  a  head;  oh  gemini, 
what  a  head  he  has  got,  and  the  other  day  playing 
marbles." 

"Yes,  and  we  are  interrupting  him  with  our 
nonsense.     Go  on,  Richard." 

Richard  had  secretly  but  fully  appreciated  the  folly 
of  the  interruption.  His  was  a  great  mind  and  moved  in 
a  sort  of  pecuniary  aether  high  above  the  little  weak- 
nesses my  reader  has  observed  in  Hardie  senior  and  old 
Skinner.  Being,  however,  equally  above  the  other  little 
infirmities  of  fretfulness  and  fussiness,  he  waited  calmly 
and  proceeded  coolly. 

"What  was  the  cause  of  the  distress  in  1793 .?" 

"Ah,  that  was  the  puzzle:  wasn't  it.  Skinner.?  We 
were  never  so  prosperous  as  that  year.  The  distress 
came  over  us  like  a  thunderstorm  all  in  a  moment. 
Nobody  knows  the  exact  cause." 

"I  beg  your   pardon,   sir,  it   is   as  well  known  as 


232  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

any  point  of  history  whatever.  Some  years  of  prosperity 
had  created  a  spawn  of  country  banks,  most  of  them 
resting  on  no  basis;  these  had  inflated  the  circulation 
with  their  paper.  A  panic  and  a  collapse  of  this  fic- 
titious currency  was  as  inevitable  as  the  fall  of  a  stone 
forced  against  nature  into  the  air." 

"There  were  a  great  many  petty  banks,  Richard, 
and,  of  course,  plenty  of  bad  paper.  I  believe  you  are 
right.  The  causes  of  things  were  not  studied  in  those 
days  as  they  are  now." 

"All  that  we  know  now,  sir,  is  to  be  found  in 
books  written  long  before  1793." 

"Books!  Books!" 

"Yes,  sir;  a  book  is  not  dead  paper  except  to  sleepy 
minds.  A  book  is  a  man  giving  you  his  best  thoughts 
in  his  very  best  words.  It  is  only  the  shallow  reader 
that  can't  learn  life  from  genuine  books.  I  '11  back 
him  Vho  studies  them  against  the  man  who  skims 
his  fellow-creatures  —  and  vice  versa,  A  single  page 
of  Adam  Smith  studied,  understood,  and  acted  on 
by  the  statesmen  of  your  day  would  have  averted 
the  panic  of  1793.  I  have  the  paragraph  in  my 
note-book.  He  was  a  great  man,  sir;  oblige  me,  Mr. 
Skinner." 

"Certainly,  Mr.  Richard,  certainly.  'Should  the 
circulation  of  paper  exceed  the  value  of  the  gold  and 
silver  of  which  it  supplies  the  place,  many  people  would 
immediately  perceive  they  had  more  of  this  paper  than 
was  necessary  for  transacting  their  business  at  home; 
and,  as  they  could  not  send  it  abroad,  bank-paper  only 
passing  current  where  it  is  issued,  there  would  be  a 
run  upon  the  banks  to  the  extent  of  this  superfluous 
paper.'  " 


LOVE  ME  LONG  £33 

Richard  Hardie  resumed.  "We  were  never  so  over- 
run with  rotten  banks  as  now.  Shoemakers,  cheese- 
mongers, grocers,  write  up  'Bank'  over  one  of  their 
windows,  and  deal  their  rotten  paper  by  the  foolscap 
ream.  The  issue  of  their  larger  notes  is  colossal,  and 
renders  a  panic  inevitable  soon  or  late;  but,  to  make 
it  doubly  sure,  they  had  been  allowed  to  utter  <£1  and 
£2  notes.  They  have  done  it,  and  on  a  frightful  scale. 
Then  to  make  it  trebly  sure,  the  balance  between  paper 
and  specie  is  disturbed  in  the  other  scale  as  well,  by 
foreign  loans  to  be  paid  in  gold.  In  1793  the  candle 
was  left  unsnuffed;  but  we  have  lighted  it  at  both  ends 
and  put  it  down  to  roast.  Before  the  year  ends  every 
sovereign  in  the  banks  of  this  country  may  be  called  on 
to  cash  ,£30  of  paper,  bank-paper,  share-paper,  foolscap- 
paper,  waste-paper.  In  1793  a  small  excess  of  paper 
over  specie  had  the  power  to  cause  a  panic  and  break 
some  ninety  banks.  But  our  excess  of  paper  is  far 
larger,  and  with  that  fatal  error  we  have  combined 
foreign  loans  and  three  hundred  bubble-companies. 
Here,  then,  meet  three  bubbles,  each  of  which  unaided 
secures  a  panic.  Events  revolve,  gentlemen,  and 
reappear  at  intervals.  The  great  French  bubble  of 
1719  is  here  to-day  with  the  addition  of  two  English 
tomfooleries,  foreign  loans  and  £1  notes.  Mr.  Law  was 
a  great  financier ;  Mr.  Law  was  the  first  banker  and  the 
greatest.  All  mortal  bankers  are  his  pupils,  though 
they  don't  know  it.  Mr.  Law  was  not  a  fool:  his 
critics  are.  Mr.  Law  did  not  commit  one  error  out  of 
six  that  are  attributed  to  him  by  those  who  judge  him 
without  reading,  far  less  studying,  his  written  works. 
He  was  too  sound  and  sober  a  banker  to  admit  small 
notes.     They   were   excluded   from   his   system.     He 


234  LOVE  ME  LITTLE 

found  France  on  the  eve  of  bankruptcy;  in  fact,  the 
state  had  committed  acts  of  virtual  bankruptcy.  He 
saved  her  with  his  bank.  Then  came  his  two  errors, 
one  remediable,  the  other  fatal.  No.  1:  he  created  a 
paper-company  and  blew  it  up  to  a  bubble.  When 
the  shares  had  reached  the  skies  they  began  to  come 
down  like  stones  by  an  inevitable  law.  No.  2:  to  save 
them  from  their  coming  fate  he  propped  them  with  his 
bank.  Overrating  the  power  of  governments,  and 
underrating  nature's,  he  married  the  Mississippi  shares 
(at  forty  times  their  value)  to  his  bank-notes  by  edict. 
What  was  the  consequence?  The  bank-paper,  sound 
in  itself,  became  rotten  by  marriage.  Nothing  could 
save  the  share-paper.  The  bank-paper,  making  com- 
mon cause  with  it,  shared  its  fate.  Had  John  Law  let 
his  two  tubs  stand  each  on  its  own  bottom  the  shares 
would  have  gone  back  to  what  they  came  from  — 
nothing;  the  bank,  based  as  it  was  on  specie,  backed 
stoutly  by  the  government,  and  respected  by  the  people 
for  great  national  services,  would  have  weathered  the 
storm  and  lasted  to  this  day.  But  he  tied  his  rickety 
child  to  his  healthy  child  and  flung  them  into  a  stormy 
sea,  and  told  them  to  swim  together:  they  sank  to- 
gether. Now  observe,  sir,  the  fatal  error  that  ruined 
that  great  financier  in  1720  is  this  day  proposed  to  us. 
We  are  to  connect  our  bank  with  bubble-companies  by 
the  double  tie  of  loans  and  liability.  John  Law  was 
sore  tempted;  the  Mississippi  Company  was  his  own 
child  as  well  as  the  bank.  Love  of  that  popularity 
he  had  drunk  so  deeply,  egotism,  and  parental  partiality, 
combined  to  obscure  that  great  man's  judgment.  But 
with  us  folly  stands  naked  on  one  side  bubbles  in  hand, 
common  sense  and  printed  experience  on  the  other. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  235 

These  six  specimen  bubbles  here  are  not  our  children. 
Let  me  see  whose  they  are,  aliases  excepted." 

"Very  good,  young  gentleman,  very  good.  Now, 
it  is  my  turn.  I  have  got  a  word  or  two  to  say  on  the 
other  side.  The  journals,  which  are  so  seldom  agreed, 
are  all  of  one  mind  about  these  glorious  times.  Account 
for  that!" 

"How  can  you  know  their  minds,  sir?" 

"By  their  leading  columns." 

"Those  are  no  clue." 

"  What !  Do  they  think  one  thing  and  print  another  ? 
Why  should  the  independent  press  do  that  ?  nonsense." 

"Why,  sir.?  Because  they  are  bribed  to  print  it, 
but  they  are  not  bribed  to  think  it." 

"  Bribed  ?    The  English  press  bribed ! " 

"  Oh !  not  directly,  like  the  English  freeman.  Oblige 
me  with  a  journal  or  two,  no  matter  which;  they  are 
all  tarred  with  the  same  stick  in  time  of  bubble.  Here, 
sir,  are  ^50  worth  of  bubble  advertisements,  yielding 
a  profit  of  say  <£25  on  this  single  issue.  In  this  one  are 
nearer  ^100  worth  of  such  advertisements.  Now,  is 
it  in  nature  that  a  newspaper,  which  is  a  trade  specu- 
lation, should  say  the  word  that  would  blight  its  own 
harvest  ?  This  is  the  oblique  road  by  which  the  English 
press  is  bribed.  These  leaders  are  mere  echoes  of  to- 
day's advertisement  sheet,  and  bidders  for  to-morrow's." 

"The  world  gets  worse  every  day.  Skinner." 

"It  gets  no  better,"  replied  Richard  philosophically. 

"But,   Richard,   here  is  our  county  member,  and 

,  staid  sober  men  both;  and  both  have  pledged 

their  honour  on  the  floor  of  the  House  of  Commons  to 
the  sound  character  of  some  of  these  companies." 

"They  have,  sir,  but  they  will  never  redeem  the  said 


236  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

honour;  for  they  are  known  to  be  bribed,  and  not 
obhquely,  by  those  very  companies."  (The  price 
current  of  M.P.  honour,  in  time  of  bubble,  ought  to  be 
added  to  the  works  of  arithmetic.)  *' Those  two 
Brutuses  get  .£500  apiece  per  annum  for  touting  those 

companies   down  at  St.  Stephen's. goes  cheaper 

and  more  obHque.  He  touts,  in  the  same  place,  for 
a  gas  company,  and  his  house  in  the  square  flares  from 
cellar  to  garret,  gratis." 

"Good  gracious!  and  he  talked  of  the  light  of  con- 
science in  his  very  last  speech.  But  this  cannot  apply 
to  all.  There  is  the  archbishop;  he  can't  have  sold 
his  name  to  that  company." 

*' Who  knows  ?  he  is  over  head  and  ears  in  debt." 

*'But  the  duke,  he  can't  have." 

"Why  not  ?  he  is  over  head  and  ears  in  debt.  Princes 
deep  in  debt  by  misconduct,  and  bishops  deep  in  ditto 
by  ditto,  are  half  honest,  needy  men;  and  half  honest, 
needy  men,  are  all  to  be  bought  and  sold  like  hogs  in 
Smithfield,  especially  in  time  of  bubble." 

"What  is  the  world  come  to.^" 

"What  it  was  a  hundred  years  ago." 

"I  have  got  one  pill  left  for  him,  Skinner.  Here  is 
the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  a  man  whose  name 
stands  for  caution,  has  pronounced  a  panegyric  on  our 
situation.  Here  are  his  words  quoted  in  this  leader  — 
now  listen.  'We  may  safely  venture  to  contemplate 
with  instructive  admiration  the  harmony  of  its  pro- 
portions and  the  solidity  of  its  basis.'  What  do  you 
say  to  that?" 

"I  say  it  is  one  man's  opinion  versus  the  experience 
of  a  century.  Besides,  that  is  a  quotation,  and  may  be 
a  fraudulent  one." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  237 

"  No !  no !  The  speech  was  only  delivered  last  Wed- 
nesday; we  will  refer  to  it.  Mum!  mum!  Ah!  here 
it  is.  *The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  rose  and' 
mum !  mum !  —  ah !  'I  am  of  —  o-pinion  that  —  if, 
upon  a  fair  review  of  our  situation,  there  shall  appear 
to  be  nothing  hollow  in  its  foundation,  artificial  in  its 
superstructure,  or  flimsy  in  its  general  results,  we  may 
safely  venture  to  contemplate  with  instructive  admira- 
tion the  harmony  of  its  proportions  and  the  solidity 
of  its  basis." 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!  I  quite  agree  with  cautious  Bobby. 
If  it  is  not  hollow  it  may  be  solid ;  if  it  is  not  a  gigantic 
paper  balloon,  it  may  be  a  very  fine  globe,  and  vice 
versa,  which  vice  versa  he  in  his  heart  suspects  to  be 
the  truth.  You  see,  sir,  the  mangled  quotation  was 
a  swindle  like  the  flimsy  superstructure  it  was  intended 
to  prop.  The  genuine  paragraph  is  a  fair  sample  of 
Robinson  and  of  the  art  of  withholding  opinion  by 
means  of  expression.  But,  as  quoted,  by  a  fraudulent 
suppression  of  one  half,  the  unbalanced  half  is  palmed 
off  as  a  whole,  and  an  indecision  perverted  into  a  deci- 
sion. I  might  just  as  fairly  cite  him  as  describing  our 
situation  to  be  *  hollow  in  its  basis,  artificial  in  its  super- 
structure, flimsy  in  its  general  result.'  Since  you  value 
names,  I  will  cite  you  one  man  that  has  commented  on 
the  situation,  not  like  Mr.  Robinson  by  misty  sentences 
each  neutralising  the  other,  but  by  consistent  acts ;  a  man, 
gentlemen,  whose  operations  have  always  been  numer- 
ous and  courageous  in  less  prosperous  times,  yet  now  he 
is  out  of  everything  but  a  single  insurance  company." 

"Who  is  the  gentlemen.?" 

"It  is  not  a  gentleman;  it  is  a  blackguard,"  said  the 
exact  youth. 


238  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"You  excite  my  curiosity.  Who  is  the  capitahst, 
then,  that  stands  aloof?" 

*' Nathan  Meyer  Rothschild." 

"The  devil." 

Old  Skinner  started  sitting.  "Rothschild  hanging 
back.  Oh,  master,  for  heaven's  sake  don't  let  us  try 
to  be  wiser  than  those  devils  of  Jews.  Mr.  Richard, 
I  bore  up  pretty  well  against  your  book-learning,  but 
now  you  've  hit  me  with  a  thunderbolt.  Let  us  get  in 
gold,  and  keep  as  snug  as  mice :  and  not  lend  one  of  them 
a  farthing  to  save  them  from  the  gallows.  Those  Jews 
smell  farther  than  a  Christian  can  see.  Don't  let's 
have  any  more  1793's,  sir,  for  heaven's  sake.  Listen 
to  Mr.  Richard;  he  has  been  abroad  and  come  back 
with  a  head." 

"Be  quiet.  Skinner!  You  seem  to  possess  private 
information,  Richard." 

"I  employ  three  myrmidons  to  hunt  it;  it  will  be 
useful  by-and-by." 

"It  may  be  useful  now.  Remark  on  these  pro- 
posals." 

"Well,  sir,  two  of  them  are  based  on  gold  mines, 
shares  at  a  fabulous  premium.  Now,  no  gold  mine 
can  be  worked  to  a  profit  by  a  company.  Primo :  Gold 
is  not  found  in  veins  like  other  metals.  It  is  an  abund- 
ant metal  made  scarce  to  man  by  distribution  over  a 
wide  surface.  The  very  phrase  gold  mine  is  delusive. 
Secundo:  Gold  is  a  metal  that  cannot  be  worked  to  a 
profit  by  a  company,  for  this  reason:  workmen  will 
hunt  it  for  others  so  long  as  the  daily  wages  average 
higher  than  the  amount  of  metal  they  find  per  diem: 
but,  that  rubicon  once  passed,  away  they  run  to  find 
gold  for  themselves  in  some  spot  with  similar  signs; 


LOVE  ME  LONG  239 

or  if  they  stay  it  is  to  murder  your  overseers  and  seize 
your  mine.  Gold  digging  is  essentially  an  individual 
speculation.  These  shares  sell  at  ^700  apiece;  a 
dozen  of  them  are  not  worth  one  Dutch  tulip-root.  Ah ! 
here  is  a  company  of  another  class,  in  which  you  have 
been  invited  to  be  director;  they  would  have  given  you 
shares  and  made  you  liable."  Mr.  Richard  consulted 
his  note-book.  "This  company,  which  'commands  the 
wealth  of  both  Indies' — in  perspective — dissolved  yes- 
terday afternoon  for  want  of  eight  guineas.  They 
had  rented  offices  at  eight  guineas  a  week,  and  could 
not  pay  the  first  week.  *Turn  out  or  pay,'  said  the 
landlord,  a  brute  absorbed  in  the  present,  and  with  no 
faith  in  the  glorious  future.  They  offered  him  ,£1,500 
worth  of  shares  instead  of  his  paltry  eight  guineas  cash. 
On  this  he  swept  his  premises  of  them.  What  a  god- 
send you  would  have  been  to  these  Jeremy  Diddlers, 
you  and  the  ten  thousand  they  would  have  bled  you  of." 

The  old  banker  turned  pale. 

"  Oh,  that  is  nothing  new,  sir.  *  To-morrow  the  first 
lord  of  the  treasury  calls  at  my  house  and  brings  me 
.£11,261,  145.  llfd.  which  is  due  to  me  from  the  nation 
at  twelve  of  the  clock  on  that  day;  you  could  n't  lend 
me  a  shilling  till  then,  could  je?'  Now  for  the  loans. 
Baynes  upon  Haggart  want  ^£2,000  at  five  per  cent." 

'*Good  names,  Richard,  surely,"  said  old  Hardie 
faintly. 

**They  were — but  there  are  no  good  names  in  time 
of  bubble;  the  operations  are  so  enormous  that  in  a 
few  weeks  a  man  is  hollowed  out  and  his  frame  left 
standing.  In  such  times  capitalists  are  like  filberts: 
they  look  all  nut,  but  half  of  them  are  dust  inside  the 
shell,    and   only   known   by   breaking.     Baynes   upon 


240  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Haggart,  and  Haggart  upon  Baynes,  the  city  is  full  of 
their  paper.  I  have  brought  some  down  to  show  it 
you.  A  discounter,  who  is  a  friend  of  mine,  did  it  for 
them  on  a  considerable  scale  at  thirty  per  cent,  dis- 
count (cast  your  eye  over  these  bills,  Haggart  on  Baynes). 
But  he  has  burnt  his  fingers  even  at  that,  and  knows  it. 
So  I  am  authorised  to  offer  all  these  to  you  at  fifty  per 
cent,  discount." 

"Good  heavens!  Richard!" 

**  If,  therefore,  you  think  of  doing  rotten  apple  upon 
rotten  peer,  otherwise  Haggart  upon  Baynes,  why  do 
it  at  five  per  cent,  when  it  is  to  be  had  by  the  quire  at 
fifty.?" 

*'Take  them  out  of  my  sight,"  said  old  Hardie,  start- 
ing up;  "take  them  all  out  of  my  sight.  Thank  God 
I  sent  for  you.  No  more  discussion,  no  more  doubt. 
Give  me  your  hand,  my  son,  you  have  saved  the  bank!" 

The  conference  broke  up  with  these  eager  words, 
and  young  Skinner  retired  swiftly  from  the  keyhole. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Hardie  senior  came  to  a  resolution 
which  saddened  poor  old  Skinner.  He  called  the  clerks 
in,  and  introduced  them  to  Mr.  Richard  as  his  manag- 
ing partner. 

"Every  dog  has  his  day,"  said  the  old  gentleman; 
"mine  has  been  a  long  one.  Richard  has  saved  the 
bank  from  a  grave  error,  Richard  shall  conduct  it  as 
Hardie  &  Son.  Don't  be  disconsolate.  Skinner,  I'll 
look  in  on  you  now  and  then." 

Hardie  junior  sent  back  all  the  proposals  with  a 
polite  negative.  He  then  proceeded  on  a  two-headed 
plan :  Not  to  lose  a  shilling  when  the  panic  he  expected 
should  come,  and  to  make  .£20,000  upon  its  subsiding. 
Hardie    &  Son  held  exchequer  bills  on  rather  a  large 


LOVE  ME  LONG  241 

scale;  they  were  at  half  a  crown  premium.  He  sold 
every  one  and  put  gold  in  his  coffers.  He  converted, 
in  the  same  way,  all  his  other  securities  except  consols. 
These  were  low,  and  he  calculated  they  would  rise  in 
any  general  depreciation  of  more  pretentious  invest- 
ments. He  drew  out  his  balance,  a  large  one,  from 
his  London  correspondent,  and  put  gold  in  his  coffers. 
He  drew  a  large  deposit  from  the  Bank  of  England. 
Whenever  his  own  notes  came  into  the  bank  he  with- 
drew them  from  circulation.  "They  may  hop  upon 
Hardie  &  Son,"  said  he,  "but  they  sha'n't  run  upon 
us,  for  I  '11  cut  off  their  legs  and  keep  them  in  my  safe." 

One  day  he  invited  several  large  tradesmen  in  the 
town  to  dine  with  him  at  the  bank.  They  came  full 
of  curiosity.  He  gave  them  a  luxurious  dinner,  which 
pleased  them.  After  dinner  he  exposed  the  real  state 
of  the  nation,  as  he  understood  it.  They  listened 
politely,  and  sneered  silently,  but  visibly.  He  then 
produced  six  large  packets  of  his  banknotes;  each 
packet  contained  .£3000.  Skinner,  then  present,  en- 
veloped these  packets  in  cartridge-paper,  and  the  guests 
were  requested  to  seal  them  up.  This  was  soon  done. 
In  those  days  a  bunch  of  gigantic  seals  dangled  and 
danced  on  the  pit  of  every  man's  stomach.  The  sealed 
packets  went  back  into  the  safe. 

"Show  us  a  sparkle  o'  gold,  Mr.  Richard,"  said 
Meredith,  linen-draper  and  wag. 

"Mr.  Skinner,  oblige  me  by  showing  Mr.  Meredith 
a  little  of  your  specie  —  a  few  anti-bubble  pills,  eh !  Mr. 
Meredith." 

Omnes:  "Ha!  ha!  ha!" 

Presently  a  shout  from  Meredith:  "Boys,  he  has  got 
it  here  by  the  bushel.     All  new  sovereigns.     Don't  any 


242  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

of  ye  be  a  linen-draper,  if  you  have  got  a  chance  to  be 
a  banker.     How  much  is  there  here,  Mr.  Richard.^" 

*'We  must  consult  the  books  to  ascertain  that,  sir." 

"Must  you  .'^  then  just  you  turn  your  head  away, 
Mr.  Richard,  and  I  '11  put  in  a  claw." 

Omnes:  *'Haw!  haw!  ho!" 

Richard  Hardie  resumed.  '*My  precautions  seem 
extravagant  to  you  now,  but  in  a  few  months  you  will 
remember  this  conversation,  and  it  will  lead  to  business." 
The  rest  of  the  evening  he  talked  of  anything,  every- 
thing except  banking.  He  was  not  the  man  to  dilute 
an  impression. 

Hardie  junior  was  so  confident  in  his  reading,  and 
his  reasonings,  that  he  looked  every  day  into  the  jour- 
nals for  the  signs  of  a  general  collapse  of  paper  and 
credit.  Instead  of  which  public  confidence  seemed  to 
increase,  not  diminish,  and  the  paper  balloon,  as  he 
called  it,  dilated,  not  shrank;  and  this  went  on  for 
months.  His  gold  lay  a  dead  and  useless  stock,  while 
paper  was  breeding  paper  on  every  side  of  him.  He 
suffered  his  share  of  those  mortifications,  which  every 
man  must  look  to  endure  who  takes  a  course  of  his  own, 
and  stems  a  human  current.  He  sat  sombre  and  per- 
plexed in  his  bank  parlour,  doing  nothing;  his  clerks 
mended  pens  in  the  oflfice.  The  national  calamity  so 
confidently  predicted,  and  now  so  eagerly  sighed  for, 
came  not. 

In  other  words  Richard  Hardie  was  a  sagacious 
calculator,  but  not  a  prophet;  no  man  is  till  afterward, 
and  then  nine  out  of  ten  are.  At  last  he  despaired  of 
the  national  calamity  ever  coming  at  all.  So  then, 
one  dark  November  day,  an  event  happened  that  proved 
him  a  shrewd  calculator  of  probabilities  in  the  gross 


LOVE  ME  LONG  243 

and  showed  that  the  records  of  the  past  "studied" 
instead  of  *' skimmed,"  may  in  some  degree  counter- 
balance youth  and  its  narrow  experience.  Owing  to 
the  foreign  loans  there  were  a  great  many  bills  out 
against  this  country.  Some  heavy  ones  were  pre- 
sented, and  seven  millions  in  gold  taken  out  of  the  Bank 
of  England  and  sent  abroad.  This  would  have  trickled 
back  by  degrees.  But  the  suddenness  and  magnitude 
of  the  drain  alarmed  the  bank  directors  for  the  safety 
of  the  bank,  subject  as  it  was  by  Mr.  Peel's  Bill  to  a  A 
vast  demand  for  gold. 

Up  to  this  period,  though,  they  had  amassed  specie 
themselves,  they  had  rather  fed  the  paper  fever  in  the 
country  at  large;  but  now  they  began  to  take  a  wide 
and  serious  view  of  the  grave  contingencies  around 
them.  They  contracted  their  money  operations,  re- 
fused in  two  cases  to  discount  corn,  and,  in  a  word, 
put  the  screw  on  as  judiciously  as  they  could.  But 
time  was  up,  public  confidence  had  reached  its  culminat- 
ing point.  The  sudden  caution  of  the  bank  could  not 
be  hidden;  it  awoke  prudence,  and  prudence  after 
imprudence  drew  terror  at  its  heels.  There  was  a 
tremendous  run  upon  the  country  banks.  The  smaller 
ones  "smashed  all  around  like  glass  bottles,"  as  in 
1793;  the  larger  ones  made  gigantic  and  prolonged 
efforts  to  stand,  and  generally  fell  at  last. 

Many,  whose  books  showed  assets  40^.  in  the  pound, 
suspended  payment.  For  in  a  violent  panic  the  bank 
creditors  can  all  draw  their  balances  in  a  few  hours  or 
days,  but  the  poor  bank  cannot  put  a  similar  screw  on 
its  debtors.  Thus  no  establishment  was  safe.  Hon- 
our and  solvency  bent  before  the  storm,  and  were 
ranked  with  rottenness;  and,  as  at  the  same  time  the 


244  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

market-price  of  securities  sank  with  frightful  rapidity, 
scarcely  any  amount  of  invested  capital  was  safe  in  the 
unequal  conflict. 

Exchequer  bills  went  down  to  6O5 /discount,  and  the 
funds  rose  and  fell  like  waves  in  a  storm. 

London  bankers  were  called  out  of  church  to  answer 
despatches  from  their  country  correspondents. 

The  Mint  worked  day  and  night,  and  coined  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  sovereigns  per  diem  for  the 
Bank  of  England;  but  this  large  supply  went  but  a 
little  way,  since  that  firm  had  in  reality  to  cash  nearly 
all  the  country  notes  that  were  cashed. 

Post-chaises  and  four  stood  like  hackney  coaches  in 
Lombard  Street,  and  every  now  and  then  went  rattling 
off  at  a  gallop  into  the  country  with  their  golden  freight. 
In  London,  at  the  end  of  a  single  week,  not  an  old 
sovereign  was  to  be  seen,  so  fiercely  was  the  old  coinage 
swept  into  the  provinces,  so  active  were  the  Mint,  and 
the  smashers  —  these  last  drove  a  roaring  trade.  For 
paper  now  was  all  suspected ;  and  anything  that  looked 
like  gold  was  taken  recklessly  in  exchange. 

Soon  the  storm  burst  on  the  London  banks.  A  firm 
known  to  possess  half  a  million  in  undeniable  securities 
could  not  cash  them  fast  enough  to  meet  the  cheques 
drawn  on  their  counter,  and  fell.  Next  day  a  house 
whose  very  name  was  a  rock  suspended  for  four  days. 
An  hour  or  two  later  two  more  went  hopelessly  to  de- 
struction. The  panic  rose  to  madness.  Confidence  had 
no  longer  a  clue,  nor  names  a  distinction.  A  man's 
enemies  collected  three  or  four  vagabonds  round  his 
door,  and  in  another  hour  there  was  a  run  upon  him 
that  never  ceased  till  he  was  emptied  or  broken.  At 
last,  as  in  the  ancient  battles,  armies  rested  on  their 


LOVE  ME  LONG  245 

arms  to  watch  a  duel  in  which  both  sides  were  repre- 
sented, the  whole  town  watched  a  run  upon  the  great 
house  of  Pole,  Thornton,  &  Co.  The  Bank  of  England, 
from  public  motives,  spiced  of  course  with  private 
interest,  had  determined  to  support  Pole,  Thornton,  & 
Co.,  and  so  perhaps  stem  the  general  fury,  for  all  things 
have  their  turning-point.  Three  hundred  thousand 
pounds  were  advanced  to  Pole  &  Co.,  who,  with  this 
aid  and  their  own  resources,  battled  through  the  week; 
but  on  Saturday  night  were  drained  so  low  that  their 
fate  once  more  depended  on  the  Bank  of  England. 
Another  large  sum  was  advanced  them.  They  went 
on,  but  ere  the  next  week  ended  they  succumbed,  and 
universal  panic  gained  the  day.  Climax  of  all,  the 
Bank  of  England  notes  lost  a  share  of  public  confidence, 
and  a  frightful  run  was  made  on  it.  The  struggle  had 
been  prepared  for,  and  was  gigantic  on  both  sides. 
Here,  the  great  hall  of  the  bank,  full  of  panic-stricken 
citizens  jostling  one  another  to  get  gold  for  the  notes  of 
the  bank;  there,  foreign  nations  sending  over  ingots  and 
coin  to  the  bank,  and  the  Mint  working  night  and  day, 
Sunday  and  week-day,  to  turn  them  into  sovereigns  to 
meet  the  run.  Sovereigns  or  else  half-sovereigns  were 
promptly  delivered  on  demand.  No  hesitation  or  sign 
of  weakness  peeped  out;  but  under  this  bold  and  pru- 
dent surface,  dismay,  sickness  of  heart,  and  the  dread  of 
a  great  humiliation.  At  last  one  dismal  evening  this 
establishment,  which  at  the  beginning  of  the  panic  had 
twenty  millions  specie,  left  off  with  about  five  hundred 
thousand  pounds  in  coin,  and  a  similar  amount  in 
bullion.  A  large  freight  of  gold  was  on  the  seas,  coming 
to  their  aid,  and  due,  but  not  arrived;  the  wind  was 
high,  and  in  a  few  hours  the  people  would  be  howling 


246  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

round  their  doors  again.  They  sent  a  hasty  message 
to  the  government,  and  implored  them  to  suspend,  by 
order  in  council,  the  operation  of  Mr.  Peel's  Bill  for  a 
few  days.     A  plump  negative  from  Mr.  Canning. 

Then,  being  driven  to  expedients,  they  bethought 
them  of  a  chest  of  <£!  notes  that  they  had  luckily  omitted 
to  burn.  Another  message  to  the  government,  "May 
we  use  these  .^  " 

*'As  a  temporary  expedient,  yes." 

The  one  pound  notes  were  whirling  all  over  the 
country  before  daybreak,  and,  marvellous  anomaly, 
which  took  Richard  Hardie  by  surprise,  they  oiled  the 
waves,  the  panic  abated  from  that  hour.*  The  holders 
of  country  notes  took  the  £1  B.  E.  notes  as  cash  with 
avidity.  The  very  sight  of  them  piled  on  a  counter 
stopped  a  run  in  more  than  one  city. 

The  demand  for  gold  at  the  Bank  of  England 
continued,  but  less  fiercely,  and  as  the  ingots  still 
came  tumbling  in  and  the  Mint  hailed  sovereigns 
on  them,  their  stock  of  specie  rose  as  the  demand 
declined;  and  they  came  out  of  their  fiercest  battle 
with  honour.  But  ere  the  tide  turned,  things  in  general 
came  to  a  pass  scarcely  known  in  the  history  of 
civilised  nations. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen  took  heirlooms  to  the  pawn- 
brokers, and  swept  their  tills  of  the  last  coin.  Not  only 
was  wild  speculation,  hitherto  so  universal  and  ardent, 
snuffed  out  like  a  candle,  but  investment  ceased  and 
commerce  came  to  a  standstill. 

Bank  Stock,  East  India  Stock,  and,  some  days. 
Consols  themselves  did  not  go  down,  they  went  out,  were 
blotted  from  the  book  of  business.     No  man  would  give 

♦  A  hair  of  the  dog  that  bit  us. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  247 

them  gratis,  no  man  would  take  them  on  any  other 
terms.  The  brokers  closed  their  books,  there  were  no 
buyers  nor  sellers.  Trade  was  coming  to  the  same  pass, 
except  the  retail  business  in  eatables ;  and  an  observant 
statesman  and  economist,  that  watched  the  phenome- 
non, pronounced  that  in  forty-eight  hours  more  all 
dealings  would  have  ceased  between  man  and  man,  or 
returned  to  the  rude  and  primitive  form  of  barter,  or 
direct  exchange  of  men's  several  commodities,  labour 
included. 

Finally,  things  crept  into  their  places ;  shades  of  dis- 
tinction were  drawn  between  good  securities  and  bad. 
Shares  were  forfeited,  companies  dissolved,  bladders 
punctured,  balloons  flattened,  bubbles  burst,  and  thou- 
sands of  families  ruined,  thousands  of  people  beggared; 
and  the  nation  itself,  its  paper  fever  reduced  by  a  severe 
bleeding,  lay  sick,  panting,  exhausted,  and  discouraged, 
for  a  year  or  two,  to  await  the  eternal  cycle — torpor, 
prudence,  health,  plethora,  blood-letting,  torpor,  pru- 
dence, health,  plethora,  blood-letting,  &c.,  &c.,  &c., 
&c.,  in  secula  seculorum. 

The  journals  pitched  into  "speculation." 

Three  banks  lay  in  the  dust  of  the  town  of ,  and 

Hardie  &  Son  stood  looking  calmly  down  upon  the 
ruins. 

Richard  Hardie  had  carried  out  his  double-headed 
plan.  ' 

There  was  no  run  upon  him:  could  not  be  one  in 
the  course  of  nature,  his  balances  were  so  low,  and  his 
notes  were  all  at  home.  He  created  artificially  a  run 
of  a  very  different  kind.  He  dined  the  same  party  of 
tradesmen;  all  but  one,  who  could  not  come,  being  at 


248  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

supper  after  Polonius  his  fashion.  After  dinner  he 
showed  the  packets  still  sealed,  and  six  more  unsealed. 
"Here,  gentlemen,  is  our  whole  issue."  There  was  a 
huge  wood  fire  in  the  old-fashioned  room.  He  threw  a 
packet  of  notes  into  it.  A  most  respectable  grocer 
yelled,  and  lost  colour:  victim  of  the  senses,  he  thought 
sacred  money  was  here  destroyed,  and  his  host  a  well- 
bred,  and  oh,  how  plausible,  maniac.  The  others 
derided  him,  and  packet  after  packet  fed  the  flames. 
When  two  only  were  left,  containing  about  five  thou- 
sand pounds  between  them,  Hardie  junior  made  a 
proposal  that  they  should  advertise  in  their  shop  win- 
dows to  receive  Hardie's  five  pound  notes  as  five  guineas 
in  payment  for  their  goods.  Observing  a  natural  hesi- 
tation, he  explained  that  they  would  by  this  means  crush 
their  competitors,  and  could  easily  clap  a  price  on  their 
goods  to  cover  the  odd  shillings.  The  bargain  was  soon 
struck.  Mr.  Richard  was  a  great  man.  All  his  guests 
felt  in  their  secret  souls,  and  pockets — excuse  the 
tautology  —  that  some  day  or  the  other  they  should 
want  to  borrow  money  of  him.  Besides,  "crush  their 
competitors!" 

Next  day  Mr.  Richard  loosed  his  hand  and  let  a 
flock  of  his  own  bank  notes  fly;  (they  were  asked  for 
earnestly  every  day).  Some  soon  found  their  way  to 
the  shops  in  question.  The  next  day  still  more  took 
wing  and  buzzed  about  the  shops.  Presently  other 
tradesmen  finding  people  rushed  to  the  shops  in  ques- 
tion, began  to  bid  against  them  for  Hardie's  notes,  a 
result  the  long-headed  youth  had  expected;  and  said 
notes  went  up  to  ten  shillings  premium.  Too  calm  and 
cold  to  be  betrayed  into  deserting  his  principles,  he  con- 
fined the  issue  within  the  bounds  he  had  prescribed,  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  249 

when  they  were  all  out  seldom  saw  one  of  them  again. 
By  this  means  he  actually  lowered  the  Bank  of  England 
notes  in  public  estimation,  and  set  his  own  high  above 
them,  in  the  town  of .  Deposits  came  in.  Con- 
fidence unparalleled  took  the  place  of  fear  so  far  as  he 
was  concerned,  and  he  was  left  free  to  work  the  other 
part  of  his  plan. 

To  the  amazement  and  mystification  of  old  Skinner, 
he  laid  out  ten  thousand  pounds  in  exchequer  bills ;  and 
followed  this  up  by  other  large  purchases  of  paper, 
paper,  nothing  but  paper. 

Hardie  senior  was  nervous. 

"Are  you  true  to  your  own  theory,  Richard .?" 

The  youth  explained  to  him  that  blind  confidence 
afways  ends  in  blind  distrust,  and  then  all  paper  becomes 
depreciated  alike:  but  good  paper  is  sure  to  recover. 
"Sixty-two  shillings  discount,  sir,  is  a  ridiculous  dechne 
of  exchequer  bills;  we  are  at  peace,  and  elastic,  and 
the  government  is  strong.  My  other  purchases  all  rest 
upon  certain  information,  carefully  and  laboriously 
amassed  while  the  world  was  so  busy  blowing  bubbles. 
I  am  now  buying  paper  that  is  unjustly  depreciated  in 
Panic,  i.  e.,  in  the  second  act  of  that  mania  of  which 
Bubble  is  the  first  act."  He  added:  **When  the  herd 
buy,  the  price  rises;  when  they  sell,  it  falls.  To  buy 
with  them  and  sell  with  them  is  therefore  to  buy  dear, 
and  sell  cheap.  My  game  —  and  it  is  a  game  that 
reduces  speculation  to  a  certainty  —  is  threefold  — 

"First,  never  at  any  price,  or  under  any  temptation, 
buy  anything  that  is  not  as  good  as  gold. 

"Secondly,  buy  that  sound  article  when  the  herd 
sells  it. 

"Thirdly,  sell  it  when  the  herd  buys  it." 


250  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Richard,"  said  the  old  man,  "I  see  what  it  is  — 


you  are  a  genius 

"No." 


It  is  no  use  your  denying  it,  Richard." 
"Common  sense,  sir,  common  sense." 
"Yes,  but  common  sense  carried  to  such  a  height 
as  you  do,  is  genius." 

"Well,  sir;  then  I  own  to  the  genius  of  common 


sense." 


"I  admire  you,  Richard,  I  am  proud  of  you;  but  the 
bank  has  stood  140  years  and  never  a  genius  in  it;"  the 
old  man  sighed. 

Hardie  senior  having  relieved  his  mind  of  this  vague 
misgiving,  never  returned  to  it:  probably  never  felt  it 
again.  It  was  one  of  those  strange  flashes  that  cross  a 
mind  as  a  meteor  the  sky. 

The  old  gentleman,  having  little  to  do,  talked  more 
than  heretofore,  and,  like  fathers,  talked  about  his  son, 
and,  unlike  sons,  cried  him  up  at  his  own  expense.  The 
world  is  not  very  incredulous;  above  all,  it  never  dis- 
believes a  man  who  calls  himself  a  fool.  Having  then 
gained  the  public  ear  by  the  artifice  of  self-depreciation, 
he  poured  into  it  the  praises  of  Hardie  junior.  He 
went  about  telling  how  he,  an  old  man,  was  all  but 
drawn  into  the  bubbles,  till  this  young  Daniel  came 
down  and  foretold  all.  Thus  paternal  garrulity  com- 
bined for  once  with  a  man's  own  ability  to  place  Richard 
Hardie  on  the  pinnacle  of  provincial  grandeur. 

A  few  years  more  and  Hardie  senior  died.  (His  old 
clerk  Skinner  followed  him  a  month  later.) 

Richard  Hardie,  now  sole  partner  and  proprietor, 
assumed  a  mode  of  living  unknown  to  his  predecessors. 
He  built  a  large  commodious  house,  and  entertained 


LOVE  ME  LONG  251 

in  the  first  style.  The  best  families  in  the  neighbour- 
hood visited  a  man  whose  manner  was  quiet  and  stately, 
his  income  larger  than  their  own,  and  his  house  and 
table  luxurious  without  vulgar  pretention;  and  the  red- 
hot  gilding  and  glare,  with  which  the  injudicious 
parvenu  brands  himself  and  furniture.  The  bank 
itself  put  on  a  new  face.  Twice  as  much  glass  fronted 
the  street,  and  a  skylight  was  let  into  the  ceiling.  There 
were  five  clerks  instead  of  three;  the  new  ones  at  much 
smaller  salaries  than  the  pair  that  had  come  down  from 
antiquity. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

Such  was  Mr.  Hardie  at  twenty-five,  and  his  towns- 
I  people  said,  "If  he  is  so  wise  now  he  is  a  boy,  what  in 
heaven's  name  will  he  be  at  forty?"  To  sixty  the 
imagination  did  not  attempt  to  follow  his  wisdom.  He 
was  now  past  thirty,  and  behind  the  scenes  of  his  bank 
was  still  the  same  able  financier  I  have  sketched.  But 
in  society  he  seemed  another  man.  There  his  charac- 
teristics were  quiet  courtesy,  imperturbability,  a  suave 
but  impressive  manner,  vast  information  on  current 
events,  and  no  flavour  whatever  of  the  shop. 

He  had  learned  the  happy  art,  which  might  be  called 
*'the  barrister's  art,"  ^'hoc  agendi''  of  throwing  the 
whole  man  into  a  thing  at  one  time,  and  out  of  it  at 
another.  In  the  bank  and  in  his  own  study  he  was  a 
devout  worshipper  of  Mammon,  in  society  a  courteous, 
polished,  intelligent  gentleman,  always  ready  to  sift  and 
discuss  any  worthy  topic  you  could  start,  except  finance. 
There  was  some  affectation  in  the  cold  and  immovable 
determination  with  which  he  declined  to  say  three  words 
about  money.  But  these  great  men  act  habitually  on 
a  preconceived  system;  this  gives  them  their  force. 

If  Lucy  Fountain  had  been  one  of  those  empty  girls 
that  were  so  rife  at  the  time,  the  sterling  value  of  his 
conversation  would  have  disgusted  her,  and  his  calm 
silence  when  there  was  nothing  to  be  said  (sure  proof 
of  intelligence),  would  have  passed  for  stupidity  with 
her.  But  she  was  intelligent,  well  used  to  bungling 
straightforward  flattery,  and  to  smile  with  arch  contempt 

252 


LOVE  ME  LONG  253 

at  it,  and  very  capable  of  appreciating  the  more 
subtle  but  less  satirical  compliment  a  man  pays  a  pretty 
girl  by  talking  sense  to  her.  And,  as  it  happened,  her 
foible  favoured  Mm  no  less  than  did  her  strong  points. 
She  attached  too  solid  a  value  to  manner;  and,  Mr. 
Hardie's  manner  was,  to  her  fancy,  male  perfection.  It 
added  to  him  in  her  estimation,  as  much  as  David 
Dodd's  defects  in  that  kind  detracted  from  the  value 
of  his  mind  and  heart. 

To  this  favourable  opinion  Mr.  Hardie  responded 
in  full. 

He  had  never  seen  so  graceful  a  creature,  nor  so 
young  a  woman  so  courteous  and  high-bred. 

He  observed  at  once  what  less  keen  persons  failed 
to  discover,  that  she  was  seldom  spontaneous,  or  off 
her  guard.  He  admired  her  the  more.  He  had  no 
sympathy  with  the  infantine,  in  man  or  woman.  "  She 
thinks  before  she  speaks,"  said  he,  with  a  note  of 
admiration.  On  the  other  hand  he  missed  a  trait  or 
two  the  young  lady  possessed;  for  they  happened  to  be 
virtues  he  had  no  eye  for.  But  the  sum  total  was  most 
favourable.     In  short,  it  was  esteem  at  first  sight. 

As  a  cobweb  to  a  cabbage-net,  so  fine  was  Mrs. 
Bazalgette's  reticulation  compared  with  Uncle  Foun- 
tain's. She  invited  Mr.  Hardie  to  stay  a  fortnight  with 
her,  commencing  just  one  day  before  Lucy's  return. 
She  arranged  a  round  of  gaiety  to  celebrate  the  double 
event.  What  could  be  more  simple.?  Yet  there  was 
policy  below.  The  whirl  of  pleasure  was  to  make 
Lucy  forget  everybody  at  Font  Abbey,  to  empty  her 
heart  and  pave  Mrs.  B.'s  candidate's  way  to  the  vacancy. 
Then  she  never  threw  Mr.  Hardie  at  Lucy's  head,  con- 


254  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

tenting  herself  with  speaking  of  him  with  veneration, 
when  Lucy  herself  or  others  introduced  his  name.  She 
was  always  contriving  to  throw  the  pair  together,  but  no 
mortal  could  see  her  hand  at  work  in  it.  Bref,  a  she- 
spider.  The  first  day  or  two  she  watched  her  niece  on 
the  sly,  just  to  see  whether  she  regretted  Font  Abbey, 
or  in  other  words,  Mr.  Talboys.  Well  acquainted  with 
all  the  subtle  signs  by  which  women  read  one  another, 
she  observed  with  some  uneasiness  that  Lucy  appeared 
somewhat  listless  and  pensive  at  times,  when  left  quite 
to  herself.  Once  she  found  her  with  her  cheek  in  her 
hand,  and,  by  the  way  the  young  lady  averted  her  head 
and  slid  suddenly  into  distinct  cheerfulness,  suspected 
there  must  have  been  tears  in  her  eyes,  but  could  not  be 
positive.  Next,  she  noticed  with  satisfaction  that  the 
round  of  gaiety,  including  as  it  did  morning  rides  as  well 
as  evening  dances,  dissipated  these  little  reveries  and 
languors.  She  inferred  that  either  there  was  nothing  in 
them  but  a  sort  of  sediment  of  ennui,  the  natural 
remains  of  a  visit  to  Font  Abbey,  or  that,  if  there  was 
anything  more,  it  had  yielded  to  the  active  pleasures  she 
had  provided,  and  to  the  lady's  easy  temper,  and  love 
of  society,  *'the  only  thing  she  loves — or  ever  will," 
said  Mrs.  B.,  assuming  prophecy. 

*'Aunt,  how  superior  Mr.  Hardie's  conversation  is. 
He  interests  one  in  topics  that  are  unbearable  generally 
— politics  now.  I  thought  I  abhorred  them;  but  I 
find  it  was  only  those  little  paltry  Whig  and  Tory 
squabbles  that  wearied  me.  Mr.  Hardie's  views  are 
neither  Whig  nor  Tory,  they  are  patriotic,  and  sober, 
and  large-minded.  He  thinks  of  the  country.  I  can 
take  some  interest  in  what  he  calls  politics." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  255 

"And,  pray,  what  is  that?" 

*'Well,  aunt,  *the  Hberation  of  commerce  from  its 
fetters,'  for  one  thing.  I  can  contrive  to  be  inter- 
ested in  that,  because  I  know  England  can  only  be 
great  by  commerce.  Then  *the  education  of  all  classes,' 
because  without  that  England  cannot  be  enlightened 
or  good." 

*'He  never  says  a  word  to  me  about  such  things,'* 
said  Mrs.  Bazalgette;  *'I  suppose  he  thinks  they  are 
above  poor  me."  She  delivered  this  with  so  admirable 
an  imitation  of  pique,  that  the  courtier  was  deceived, 
and  applied  butter  to  '*a  fox's  wound." 

** Oh  no,  aunt!  Consider!  if  that  was  it  he  would  not 
waste  them  on  me,  who  am  so  inferior  to  you  in  sagacity. 
More  likely  he  says,  *this  young  lady  has  not  yet  com- 
pleted her  education;  I  will  sprinkle  a  little  good  sense 
among  her  frivolous  accomplishments.'  Whatever  the 
motive,  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  Mr.  Hardie.  A  man 
of  sense  is  so  refreshing  after  all  —  (full  stop).  What  do 
you  think  of  his  voice  ?" 

*'His  voice  ?  I  don't  remember  anything  about  it." 

*'Yes,  you  do;  you  must:  it  is  a  very  remarkable 
one  —  so  mellow,  so  quiet,  yet  so  modulated." 

"Well,  I  do  remember  now;  it  is  rather  a  pleasant 
voice  —  for  a  man." 

"Rather  a  pleasant  voice!"  repeated  Lucy,  opening 
her  eyes;  "why,  it  is  a  voice  to  charm  serpents." 

"Ha!  ha!  It  has  not  charmed  him  one  yet,  you  see. 

This  speech  was  not  in  itself  pellucid;  but  these 
sweet  ladies,  among  themselves,  have  so  few  topics 
compared  with  men,  and  consequently  beat  their  little 
manor  so  often,  that  they  seize  a  familiar  idea  under 
any  disguise  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning. 


256  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

**Oh!  charmers  are  charm-proof,"  replied  Lucy; 
"that  is  the  only  reason  why  —  I  am  sure  of  that." 
Then  she  reflected  a  while.  *'It  is  his  natural  voice, 
is  it  not  ?  Did  you  ever  hear  him  speak  in  any  other  ? 
think!" 

**  Never." 

"Then,  he  must  be  a  good  man.  Apropos,  is  Mr. 
Hardie  a  good  man,  aunt.?" 

"Why,  of  course  he  is." 

"How  do  you  know.?" 

"I  never  heard  of  any  scandal  against  him." 

"Oh!  I  don't  mean  your  negative  goodness.  You 
never  heard  anything  against  me  out  of  doors." 

"Well,  and  are  you  not  a  good  girl .?" 

"Me.?  aunt.?  Why,  you  know  I  am  not." 

"Bless  me,  what  have  you  done.?" 

"I  have  done  nothing,  aunt,"  exclaimed  Lucy,  "and 
the  good  are  never  nullities.  Then  I  am  not  open, 
which  is  a  great  fault  in  a  character.  But  I  can't  help 
it,  I  can't!  I  can't!" 

"Well,  you  need  not  break  your  heart  for  that.  You 
will  get  over  it  before  you  have  been  married  a  year. 
Look  at  me,  I  was  as  sly  as  any  of  you  at  first  going  off, 
but  now  I  can  speak  my  mind;  and  a  good  thing  too, 
or  what  would  become  of  me  among  the  selfish  set  ?" 

"Meaning  me,  dear.?" 

"No.  Divide  it  amongst  you.  Come,  this  is  idle 
talk.  Men's  voices,  and  whether  they  are  good,  bad, 
or  indifferent;  as  if  that  mattered  a  pin,  provided  their 
incomes  are  good,  and  their  manners  endurable.  I 
want  a  little  serious  conversation  with  you." 

"Do  you.?"  and  Lucy  coloured  faintly;  "with  all 
my   heart." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  257 

**  We  go  to  the  Hunt's  ball  the  day  after  to-morrow, 
Lucy,  I  suppose  you  know  that?  Now,  what  on 
earth  ana  I  to  wear  —  that  is  the  question.  There 
is  no  time  to  get  a  new  dress  made,  and  I  have  not 
got  one." 

''That  you  have  not  worn  once  ?" 

"Many  of  them  twice,  and  even  three  times";  and 
the  B.  looked  aghast  at  the  state  of  nudity  to  which  she 
was  reduced.  Lucy  sidled  toward  the  door.  "Since 
you  consult  me,  dear,  I  advise  you  to  wear  what  I  mean 
to  wear  myself." 

"Ah!  what  a  capital  idea!  then  we  shall  pass  for 
sisters.  I  dare  say  I  have  got  some  old  thing  or  other 
that  will  match  yours;  but  you  had  better  tell  me  at 
once  what  you  do  mean  to  wear." 

"A  gown,  a  pair  of  gloves,  and  a  smerk";  and  with 
this  heartless  expression  of  nonchalance  Lucy  glided 
away,  and  escaped  the  impending  shower. 

"Oh!  the  selfishness  of  these  girls!"  cried  the  de- 
serted one.  "I  have  got  her  a  husband  to  her  taste; 
so  now  she  runs  away  from  me  to  think  of  him." 

The  next  moment  she  looked  at  the  enormity  from 
another  point  of  view,  and  then  the  burst  of  injured 
virtue  gave  way  to  a  steady  complacency. 

"She  is  caught  at  last.  She  notices  his  very  voice. 
She  fancies  she  cares  for  politics,  ha!  ha!  She  is  gone 
to  meditate  on  him  — ^  could  not  bear  any  other  topic. 
Would  not  even  talk  about  dress;  a  thing  her  whole 
soul  was  wrapped  up  in  till  now.  I  have  known  her  go 
on  for  hours  at  a  stretch  about  it." 

There  are  people  with  memories  so  constructed  that 
what  they  said,  and  another  did  not  contradict  or  even 
answer,  seems  to  them  upon  retrospect  to  have  been 


258  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

delivered  by  that  other  person,  and  received  in  dead 
silence  by  themselves. 

Meantime  Lucy  was  in  her  own  room,  and  the  door 
bolted. 

So  she  was  the  next  day;  and  uneasy  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette  came  hunting  after,  and  tapped  at  the  door  after 
first  trying  the  handle,  which  in  Lucy's  creed  was  not  a 
discreet  and  polished  act. 

"Nobody  admitted  here  till  three  o'clock." 

"It  is  me,  Lucy." 

"So  I  conclude,"  said  Lucy  gaily.  "  *Me'  must  call 
again  at  three,  whoever  it  is." 

"Not  I,"  said  Aunt  Bazalgette,  and  flounced  off  in 
a  pet. 

At  three  Dignity  dissolved  in  Curiosity,  and 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  entered  her  niece's  room  in  an  ill- 
temper.  It  vanished  like  smoke  at  the  sight  of  two 
new  dresses,  peach-coloured  and  glacees,  just  finished, 
lying  on  the  bed.  An  eager  fire  of  questions.  "  Where 
did  you  get  them  ?  which  is  mine  ?  who  made 
them.?" 

"A  new  dressmaker." 

"Ah!  what  a  godsend  to  poor  us!  who  is  she .?" 

"Let  me  see  how  you  like  her  work  before  I  tell 
you.     Try  this  one  on. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  tried  on  her  dress,  and  was  charmed 
with  it.  Lucy  would  not  try  on  hers :  she  said  she  had 
done  so,  and  it  fitted  well  enough  for  her. 

"Everything  fits  you,  you  witch,"  replied  the  B.  "I 
must  have  this  woman's  address,  she  is  an  angel." 

Lucy  looked  pleased:  "She  is  only  a  beginner,  but 
desirous  to  please  you;  and  *zeal  goes  farther  than 
talent,'  says  Mr.  Dodd." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  259 

"Mr.  Dodd!  ah!  by-the-by,  that  reminds  me:  I  am 
so  glad  you  mentioned  his  name;  where  does  the  woman 
live?" 

"The  woman,  or,  as  some  consider  her,  the  girl,  lives 
at  present  with  a  charming  person  called  by  the  world 
Mrs.  Bazalgette,  but  by  the  dressmaker  her  sweet  little 
aunt,"  —  (kiss)  (kiss)  (kiss) ;  and  Lucy,  whose  natural 
affection  for  this  lady  was  by  a  certain  law  of  nature 
heated  higher  by  working  day  and  night  for  her  in 
secret,  felt  a  need  of  expansion,  and  curled  round  her 
like  a  serpent  with  a  dove's  heart. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  did  what  you  and  I,  manly  reader, 
should  have  been  apt  to  omit.  She  extricated  herself, 
not  roughly,  yet  a  little  hastily  —  like  a  water-snake 
gliding  out  of  the  other  sweet  serpent's  folds.*  Sacred 
dress  being  present,  she  deemed  caresses  frivolous  — 
and  ill-timed.  "There,  there,  let  me  alone,  child,  and 
tell  me  all  about  it  directly.  What  put  it  into  your 
head  ?  who  taught  you  ?  is  this  your  first  attempt  ?  have 
you  paid  for  the  silk,  or  am  I  to.^  Do  tell  me  quick, 
don't  keep  me  on  thorns!" 

Lucy  answered  this  fusillade  in  detail. 

"You  know,  aunt,  dressmakers  bring  us  their  fail- 
ures, and  we,  by  our  hints,  get  them  made  into  successes. 

"So  we  do." 

"So  I  said  to  myself,  'Now,  why  not  bring  a  little 
intelligence  to  bear  at  the  beginning;  and  make  these 
things  right  at  once.^'  Well,  I  bought  several  books, 
and  studied  them,  and  practised  cutting  out,  in  large 


♦  Here  flashes  on  the  cultivated  mind  the  sprightly  couplet  — 
"  Oh  that  I  had  my  mistress  at  this  bay. 
To  kiss  and  clip  me  — till  I  run  away."— Shakespearb. 

Venus  and  AdonU, 


260  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

sheets  of  brown  paper  first:  next  I  ventured  a  small 
flight.     I  made  Jane  a  gown." 

"What,  your  servant!" 

**Yes.  I  had  a  double  motive:  first  attempts  are 
seldom  brilliant;  and  it  was  better  to  fail  in  merino, 
and  on  Jane,  than  on  you,  madam,  and  in  silk.  In  the 
next  place,  Jane  had  been  giving  herself  airs,  and 
objecting  to  do  some  work  of  that  kind  for  me;  so  I 
thought  it  a  good  opportunity  to  teach  her  that  dignity 
does  not  consist  in  being  disobliging.  The  poor  girl 
is  so  ashamed  now:  she  comes  to  me  in  her  merino 
frock,  and  pesters  me  all  day  to  let  her  do  things  for 
me.  I  am  at  my  wits'  end  sometimes  to  invent  unreal 
distresses,  like  the  writers  of  fiction,  you  know;  and, 
aunty  dear,  you  will  not  have  to  pay  for  the  stuff.  To 
tell  you  the  real  truth,  I  overheard  Mr.  Bazalgette  say 
something  about  the  length  of  your  last  dressmaker's 
bill ;  and  as  I  have  been  very  economical  at  Font  Abbey, 
I  found  I  had  eighteen  pounds  to  spare :  so  I  said  noth- 
ing, but  I  thought  we  will  have  a  dress  apiece  that 
nobody  shall  have  to  pay  for." 

*' Eighteen  pounds.^  those  two  lovely  dresses,  lace, 
trimmings,  and  all  for  eighteen  pounds!  " 

**  Yes,  aunt.  So  you  see  these  good  souls,  that  make 
our  dresses,  have  imposed  upon  us  without  ceremony; 
they  would  have  been  twenty-five  pounds  apiece,  now, 
would  they  not.?" 

**At  least.  Well,  you  are  a  clever  girl.  I  might  as 
well  try  on  yours,  as  you  won't." 

"Do,  dear." 

She  tried  on  Lucy's  gown;  and,  as  before,  got  two 
looking-glasses  into  a  line,  twisted  and  twirled  and 
inspected  herself  north,  south,  east  and  west,  and  in 


LOVE  ME  LONG  261 

an  hour  and  a  half  resigned  herself  to  take  the  dress 
off.  Lucy  observed  with  a  sly  smile  that  her  gaiety 
declined,  and  she  became  silent  and  pensive. 

"In  the  dead  of  the  night,  when  with  labour 
oppressed,  All  mortals  enjoy  the  sweet  blessing  of  rest," 
a  phantom  stood  at  Lucy's  bedside,  and  fingered  her. 
She  awoke  with  a  violent  scream,  the  first  note  of  which 
pierced  the  night's  dull  ear,  but  the  second  sounded 
like  a  wail  from  a  well,  being  uttered  a  long  way  under 
the  bedclothes.  **Hush!  don't  be  a  fool,"  cried  the 
affectionate  phantom,  and  kneaded  the  uncertain  form 
through  the  bedclothes;  "fancy  screeching  so  at  sight 
of  me!"  Then  gradually  a  single  eye  peeped  timidly 
between  two  white  hands  that  held  the  sheets  ready 
for  defence  like  a  shield. 

"B  —  b  —  but  you  are  all  in  white,"  gulped  Lucy, 
trembling  all  over;  for  her  delicate  fibres  were  set 
quivering,  and  could  not  be  stilled  by  a  word:  fingered 
at  midnight  all  in  a  moment  by  a  shade. 

"Why,  what  colour  should  I  be  —  in  my  night- 
gown ?''  snapped  the  spectre.  "What  colour  is  yours .?" 
and  she  gave  Lucy's  a  little  angry  pull — "  and  everybody 
else's.?" 

"But  at  the  dead  of  night,  aunt,  and  without  any 
warning — it 's  terrible.  Oh  dear!"  (another  little  gulp 
in  the  throat,  exceeding  pretty). 

"Lucy,  be  yourself,"  said  the  spectre  severely;  "you 
used  not  to  be  so  selfish  as  to  turn  hysterical  when  your 
aunt  came  to  you  for  advice." 

Lucy  had  to  do  a  little  "forgive  blest  shade!"  She 
apologised:  crushed  down  her  obtrusive,  egotistical 
tremours,   and  vibrated   to   herself. 


262  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Placable  Aunt  Bazalgette  accepted  her  excuses,  and 
opened  the  business  that  had  brought  her  there. 

"I  did  n't  leave  my  bed  at  this  hour  for  nothing,  you 
may  be  sure." 

*'N  — no,  aunt." 

**Lucy,"  continued  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  deepening, 
*' there  is  a  weight  on  my  mind." 

Up  sat  Lucy  in  the  bed;  and  two  sapphire  eyes 
opened  wide  and  made  terror  lovely. 

**Oh!  aunt!  what  have  you  been  doing.?  It  is 
remorse  then  that  will  not  let  you  sleep.  Ah !  I  see  !  — 
your  flirtations!  your  flirtations!  this  is  the  end  of 
them." 

*'My  flirtations,"  cried  the  other  in  great  surprise. 
'*I  never  flirt.     I  only  amuse  myself  with  them."* 

"  You  —  never  —  flirt .?  oh !  —  oh !  —  oh !  Mr.  Chris- 
topher, Mr.  Home,  Sir  George  Healey,  Mr.  M'Donnell, 
Mr.  Wolf enton,  Mr.  Vaughan  —  there !  oh,  and  Mr. 
Dodd!" 

**Well,  at  all  events,  it's  not  for  any  of  those  fools 
I  get  out  of  my  bed  at  this  time  of  night.  I  have  a 
weight  on  my  mind;  so  do  be  serious,  if  you  can.  Lucy, 
I  tried  all  yesterday  to  hide  it  from  myself,  but  I  cannot 
succeed." 

"What.?  dear  aunt." 

"Your  gown  fits  me  ever  so  much  better  than  my 
own."     She  sighed  deeply. 

Lucy  smiled  slily;  but  she  replied,  "Is  not  that 
fancy.?" 

"No!  Lucy,  no!"  was  the  solemn  reply,  "I  have 
tried  to  shut  my  eyes  to  it,  but  I  can't." 


*  In  strict  grammar  this  "them"  ought  to  refer  to   "flirtations,"  but  Lucy's  aunt  did  not 
talk  strict  grammar.    Does  yours  ? 


LOVE  ME  LONG  263 

"So  it  seems.     Ha!  ha!" 

"Now,  do  be  serious!  it  is  no  laughing  matter:  how 
unfortunate  I  am!" 

"Not  at  all.  Take  my  gown.  I  can  easily  alter 
yours  to  fit  me,  if  necessary." 

"Oh!  you  good  girl!  how  clever  you  are.  I  should 
never  have  thought  of  that."  N,B, —  She  had  been 
thinking  of  nothing  else  these  six  hours. 

"Go  to  bed,  dear,  and  sleep  in  peace,"  said  Lucy 
soothingly.     "Leave   all   to   me." 

"No!  I  can't  leave  all  to  you.  Now  I  am  to  have 
yours,  I  must  try  it  on."  It  was  hers  now;  so  her 
confidence  in  its  fitting  was  shaken. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  then  lighted  all  the  candles  in  the 
sconces,  and  opened  Lucy's  drawers,  and  took  out 
linen,  and  put  on  the  dress  with  Lucy's  aid,  and  showed 
Lucy  how  it  fitted,  and  was  charmed,  like  a  child  with 
a  new  toy. 

Presently  Lucy  interrupted  her  raptures  by  an  ex- 
clamation. Mrs.  Bazalgette  looked  round,  and  there 
was  her  niece  inspecting  the  ghostly  robe  which  had 
caused  her  such  a  fright. 

"Here  are  oceans  of  yards  of  lace  on  her  very 
nightgown,"  cried  Lucy. 

"Well!  does  not  every  lady  wear  lace  on  her 
nightgown.?"  was  the  tranquil  reply.  "What  is  that 
on  yours,  pray.?" 

"A  little  misery  of  Valenciennes,  an  inch  broad;  but 
this  is  Mechlin:  superb!  delicious!  Well,  aunt,  you 
are  a  sincere  votary  of  the  Graces.  You  put  on  fine 
things  because  they  are  fine  things,  not  with  the  hollow 
motive  of  dazzling  society;  you  wear  Mechlin  not  for 
eclaty  but  for  Mechlin.     Alas!  how  few,  like  you,  pursue 


264  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

quite  the  same  course  in  the  dark,  that  they  do  in  the 
world's  eye." 

"Don't  moralise,  dear!  unhook  me!" 

After  breakfast  Mrs.  Bazalgette  asked  Lucy  how 
long  she  could  give  her  to  choose  which  of  the  two  gowns 
to  take,  after  all. 

"Till  eight  o'clock." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  breathed  again.  She  had  thought 
herself  committed  to  No.  2,  and  No.  1  was  beginning 
to  look  lovely  in  consequence.  At  eight  the  choice 
being  offered  her  with  impenetrable  nonchalance  by 
Lucy,  she  took  Lucy's  without  a  moment's  hesitation, 
and  sailed  off  gaily  to  her  own  room  to  put  it  on,  in 
which  progress  the  ample  peach-coloured  silk  held 
out  in  both  hands  showed  like  Cleopatra's  foresail, 
and  seemed  to  draw  the  dame  along. 

Lucy,  too,  was  happy  —  demurely;  for  in  all  this 
business  the  female  novice,  "la  rusee  sans  la  savoir/^  had 
outwitted  the  veteran.  Lucy  had  measured  her  whole 
aunt.  So  she  made  dress  A.  for  her,  but  told  her  she 
was  to  have  dress  B.  This  at  once  gave  her  desires  a 
perverse  bent  toward  her  own  property,  the  last  direction 
they  could  have  been  warped  into  by  any  other  means; 
and  so  she  was  deluded  to  her  good,  and  fitted  to  a  hair, 
soul  and  body. 

Going  to  the  ball,  one  cloud  darkened  for  an  instant 
the  matron's  mind. 

"I  am  afraid  they  will  see  it  only  cost  nine  pounds." 

"Enfant!''  replied  Lucy,  " oeiat.  20." 

At  the  ball  Mr.  Hardie  and  Lucy  danced  together, 
and  were  the  most  admired  couple. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Hardie  announced  that  he  was 


LOVE  ME  LONG  265 

obliged  to  curtail  his  visit,  and  go  up  to  London.  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  remonstrated.  Mr.  Hardie  apologised,  and 
asked  permission  to  make  out  the  rest  of  his  visit  on  his 
return.  Mrs.  B.  accorded  joyfully;  but  Lucy  objected. 
'*  Aunt,  don't  you  be  deluded  into  any  such  arrangement; 
Mr.  Hardie  is  liable  to  another  fortnight.  We  have 
nothing  to  do  with  his  mismanagement.  He  comes 
to  spend  a  fortnight  with  us:  he  tries  —  but  fails;  I  am 
sorry  for  Mr.  Hardie,  but  the  engagement  remains  in 
full  force.  I  appeal  to  you,  Mr.  Bazalgette,  you  are 
so  exact." 

*'I  don't  see  myself  how  he  can  get  out  of  it  with 
credit,"  said  Bazalgette  solemnly. 

**  I  am  happy  to  find  that  my  duty  is  on  the  side  of  my 
inclination,"  said  Mr.  Hardie;  smiled  well  pleased, 
and  looked  handsomer  than  ever. 

They  all  missed  him  more  or  less ;  but  nobody  more 
than  Lucy.  His  conversation  had  a  peculiar  charm 
for  her.  His  knowledge  of  current  events  was  unparal- 
leled ;  then  there  was  a  quiet  potency  in  him  she  thought 
very  becoming  in  a  man  —  and  then  his  manner.  He 
was  the  first  of  our  unfortunate  sex  who  had  reached 
her  beau  ideal.  One  was  harsh,  another  finicking; 
a  third  loud,  a  fourth  enthusiastic,  a  fifth  timid ;  and  all 
failed  in  tact,  except  Mr.  Hardie.  Then  other  male 
voices  were  imperfect:  they  were  too  insignificant,  or 
too  startling,  too  bass,  or  too  treble,  too  something  or 
too  other.  Mr.  Hardie's  was  a  mellow  tenor,  always 
modulated  to  the  exact  tone  of  good  society.  Like 
herself,  too,  he  never  laughed  loud,  seldom  out;  and 
even  his  smiles,  like  her  own,  did  not  come  in  unmean- 
ing profusion,  so  told  when  they  did  come. 

The  Bazalgettes  led  a  very  quiet  life  for  the  next 


LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

fortnight,  for  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  husbanding  invita- 
tions for  Mr.  Hardie's  return. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  yawned  many  times  during  this 
barren  period;  but  with  considerable  benevolence  she 
shielded  Lucy  from  ennui.  Lucy  was  a  dressmaker, 
gifted  but  inexperienced;  well  then,  she  would  supply 
the  latter  deficiency  by  giving  her  an  infinite  variety 
of  alterations  to  make  in  a  multitude  of  garments. 
There  are  egotists,  who  charge  for  tuition,  but  she  would 
teach  her  dear  niece  gratis.  A  mountain  of  dresses 
rose  in  the  drawing-room,  a  dozen  metamorphoses 
were   put   in   hand,    and   a   score   more   projected. 

She  pulled  down,  she  built  up,  she  rounded  the 
angular,  and  squared  the  round.  And  here  Mr.  Bazal- 
gette took  perverse  views  and  misbehaved.  He  was 
a  very  honest  man,  but  not  a  refined  courtier.  He 
seldom  interfered  with  these  ladies  one  way  or  other, 
except  to  provide  funds,  which  interference  was  never 
snubbed:  for  he  was  not  master  of  the  house  in  that 
sense  .^^  But  having  observed  what  was  going  on  day 
after  day  in  the  drawing-room  or  workshop,  he  walked 
in  and  behaved  himself  like  a  brute. 

"How  much  a  week  does  she  give  you,  Lucy .?"  said 
he,  looking  a  little  red. 

Lucy  opened  her  eyes  in  utter  astonishment,  and 
said  nothing;  her  very  needle  and  breath  were  sus- 
pended. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  shrugged  her  shoulders  to  Lucy, 
but  disdained  words.  Mr.  Bazalgette  turned  to  his 
wife. 

**I  have  often  recommended  economy  to  you,  Jane, 
I  need  not  say  with  what  success.  But  this  sort  of 
economy  is  not  for  your  credit,  or  mine.     If  you  want 


LOVE  ME  LONG  267 

to  add  a  dressmaker  to  your  staff  —  with  all  my  heart. 
Send  for  one  when  you  like,  and  keep  her  to  all  eternity. 
But  this  young  lady  is  our  ward,  and  I  will  not  have 
her  made  a  servant  of  for  your  convenience." 

"Put  your  work  down,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
resignedly.  "He  does  not  understand  our  affection; 
nor  anything  else  except  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence." 

**Oh,  yes,  I  do.  I  can  see  through  varnished  selfish- 
ness, for  one  thing." 

"You  certainly  ought  to  be  a  judge  of  the  unvar- 
nished article,"  retorted  the  lady. 

"Having  had  it  constantly  under  my  eyes  these 
twenty  years,"  rejoined  the  gentleman. 

"Oh,  aunt!  —  oh,  Mr.  Bazalgette!"  cried  Lucy, 
rising  and  clasping  her  hands;  "if  you  really  love  me, 
never  let  me  be  the  cause  of  a  misunderstanding,  or  an 
angry  word  between  those  I  esteem:  it  would  make  me 
too  miserable;  and,  dear  Mr.  Bazalgette,  you  must  let 
people  be  happy  in  their  own  way,  or  you  will  be  sure 
to  make  them  unhappy.  My  aunt  and  I  understand 
one  another  better  than  vou  do." 

"  She  understands  you,  my  poor  girl." 

"  Not  so  well  as  I  do  her.  But  she  knows  I  hate  to  be 
idle,  and  love  to  do  these  bagatelles  for  her.  It  is  my 
doing  from  the  first,  not  hers;  she  did  not  even  know 
I  could  do  it  till  I  produced  two  dresses  for  the  Hunt's 
ball.     So  you  see." 

"That  is  another  matter;  all  ladies  play  at  work. 
But  you  are  in  for  three  months^  hard  labour.  Look  at 
that  heap  of  vanity;  she  is  making  a  lady's-maid  of 
you.  It  is  unjust.  It  is  selfish.  It  is  improper.  It 
is  not  for  my  credit,  of  which  I  am  more  jealous  than 
coquettes  are  of  theirs;  besides,  Lucy,  you  must  not 


268  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

think,  because  I  don't  make  a  parade  as  she  does,  that 
I  am  not  fond  of  you.  I  have  a  great  deal  more  real 
affection  for  you  than  she  has;  and  so  you  will  find  if 
we  are  ever  put  to  the  test." 

At  this  last  absurdity  Mrs.  Bazalgette  burst  out 
laughing.  But  ^'la  rusee  sans  la  savoir''  turned  toward 
the  speaker,  and  saw  that  he  spoke  with  a  certain 
emotion  which  was  not  ordinary  in  him.  She  instantly 
went  to  him,  with  both  hands  gracefully  extended.  "I 
do  think  you  have  an  affection  for  me.  If  you  really 
have,  show  it  me  some  other  way,  and  not  by  making 
me  unhappy." 

**  Well,  then,  I  will,  Lucy.  Look  here  —  if  Solomon 
was  such  a  fool  as  to  argue  with  one  of  you  young 
geese,  you  would  shut  his  mouth  in  a  minute.  There, 
I  am  going;  but  you  will  always  be  the  slave  of  one 
selfish  person  or  other:  you  were  born  for  it." 

Thus  impotently  growling,  the  merchant  prince 
retired  from  the  field  escorted  with  amenity  by  the 
courtier;  in  the  passage  she  suddenly  drooped  forward 
like  a  cypress-tree,  and  gave  him  her  forehead  to  kiss. 
He  kissed  it  with  some  little  warmth,  and  confided  to 
her,  in  friendly  accents,  that  she  was  a  fool;  and  off  he 
went,  grumbling  inarticulately,  to  his  foreign  loans  and 
things. 

The  courtier  returned  to  smooth  her  aunt  in  turn; 
but  that  lady  stopped  her  with  a  lofty  gesture. 

"My  plan  is  to  look  on  these  monstrosities  as  horrid 
dreams,  and  go  on  as  if  nothing  had  happened." 

Happy  philosophy! 

Lucy  acquiesced  with  a  smile,  and  in  an  instant  both 
immortal  souls  plunged,  and  disappeared  in  silk,  satin, 
feathers,  and  point-lace. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  269 

The  afternoon  post  brought  letters  that  furnished 
some  excitement.  Mr.  Hardie  announced  his  return, 
and  Captain  Kenealy  accepted  an  invitation  that 
had  been  sent  to  him  two  days  before.  But  this  was 
not  all.  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  with  something  between 
a  laugh  and  a  crow,  handed  Lucy  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Fountain,  in  which  that  diplomatic  gentleman  availed 
himself  of  her  kind  invitation,  and  with  elephantine 
playfulness  proposed,  as  he  could  not  stay  a  month  with 
her,  to  be  permitted  to  bring  a  friend  with  him,  for  a 
fortnight.  This  friend  had  unfortunately  missed  her 
through  absence  from  his  country  house,  at  the  period 
of  her  visit  to  Font  Abbey,  and  had  so  constantly 
regretted  his  ill  fortune  that  he  (Fountain)  had  been 
induced  to  make  this  attempt  to  repair  the  calamity. 
His  friend's  name  was  Talboys;  he  was  a  gentleman  of 
lineage,  and  in  his  numerous  travels  had  made  a  collec- 
tion of  foreign  costumes,  which  were  really  worth 
inspecting,  and  if  agreeable  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  he 
should  send  them  on  before  by  wagon,  for  no  carriage 
would  hold  them. 

Lucy  coloured  on  reading  this  letter;  for  it  repeated 
a  falsehood  that  had  already  made  her  blush.  The 
next  moment,  remembering  how  very  keenly  her  aunt 
must  be  eyeing  her,  and  reading  her,  she  looked  straight 
before  her,  and  said  coldly,  **  Uncle  Fountain  ought 
to  be  welcome  here,  for  his  courtesy  to  you  at  Font 
Abbey;  but  I  think  he  takes  rather  a  liberty  in  pro- 
posing a  stranger  to  you." 

"Rather  a  liberty.?  say  a  very  great  liberty." 
'"Well,  then,  aunt,   why  not  write  back  that  any 
friend  of  his  would  be  welcome,  but  that  the  house  is 
full,  you  have  only  room  for  Uncle  Fountain .?" 


270  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

*'But  that  is  not  true,  Lucy,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette, 
with  sudden  dignity. 

Lucy  was  staggered  and  abashed  at  this  novel  objec- 
tion, recovering,  she  whined  humbly,  **But  it  is  very 
nearly  true." 

It  was  plain  Lucy  did  not  want  Mr.  Talboys  to  visit 
them.  This  decided  Mrs.  Bazalgette  to  let  his  dresses 
and  him  come.  He  would  only  be  a  foil  to  Mr.  Hardie, 
and  perhaps  bring  him  on  faster.  Her  decision  once 
made  on  the  above  grounds,  she  conveyed  it  in  char- 
acteristic colours.  "No,  my  love,  where  I  give  my 
affection  there  I  give  my  confidence.  I  have  your 
word  not  to  encourage  this  gentleman's  addresses;  so 
why  hurt  your  uncle's  feelings,  by  closing  my  door  to 
his  friend  ?  It  would  be  an  ill  compUment  to  you,  as 
well  as  to  Mr.  Fountain;  he  shall  come." 

Her  postscript  to  Mr.  Fountain  ran  thus — 

"Your  friend  would  have  been  welcome  independ- 
ently of  the  foreign  costumes ;  but,  as  I  am  a  very  candid 
little  woman,  I  may  as  well  tell  you  that  now  you  have 
excited  my  curiosity,  he  will  be  a  great  deal  more  wel- 
come with  them  than  without  them." 

And  here  I  own,  that  I,  the  simple-minded,  should 
never  have  known  all  that  was  signified  in  these  words, 
but  for  the  comment  of  John  Fountain,  Esq. 

"It  is  all  right,  Talboys,"  said  he.  "My  bait  has 
taken.  You  must  pack  up  these  gimcracks  at  once, 
and  send  them  off,  or  she'll  smile  like  a  marble  Satan  in 
your  face,  and  stick  you  full  of  pins  and  needles." 

The  next  day  Mr.  Bazalgette  walked  into  the  room, 
haughtily  overlooked  the  pyramid  of  dresses,  and  asked 
Lucy  to  come  downstairs  and  see  something;  she  put 
her  work  aside,  and  went  down  with  him,  and  lo !  two 


LOVE  ME  LONG  271 

ponies  —  a  cream-coloured  and  a  bay.  *'Oh,  you 
loves!"  cried  the  virgin  passionately,  and  blushed  with 
pleasure.  Her  heart  was  very  accessible  —  to  quad- 
rupeds. 

"Now  you  are  to  choose  which  of  these  you  will 
have." 

*'Oh,  Mr.  Bazalgette!" 

"Have  you  forgotten  what  you  told  me?  'try  and 
make  me  happy  some  other  way,'  says  you.  So  I 
remembered  hearing  you  say  what  a  nice  pony  you  had 
at  Font  Abbey.  So  I  sent  a  capable  person  to  collect 
ponies  for  you.  These  have  both  a  reputation.  Which 
will  you  have.^" 

"Dear,  good,  kind  Uncle  Bazalgette:  they  are 
ducks." 

"Let  us  hope  not:  a  duck's  paces  won't  suit  you,  if 
you  are  as  found  of  galloping  as  other  young  ladies. 
Come,  jump  up,  and  see  which  is  the  best  brute  of  the 
two." 

"What,  without  my  habit.?" 

"Well,  get  your  habit  on,  then.  Let  us  see  how 
quick  you  can  be." 

Off  ran  Lucy,  and  soon  returned  fully  equipped. 
She  mounted  the  ponies  in  turn,  and  rode  them  each  a 
mile  or  two  in  short  distances.  Finally  she  dismounted, 
and  stood  beaming  on  the  steps  of  the  hall.  The  groom 
held  the  ponies  for  final  judgment. 

"The  bay  is  rather  the  best  goer,  dear,"  said  she 
timidly. 

"Miss  Fountain  chooses  the  bay,  Tom." 

"No,  uncle.  I  was  going  to  ask  you  if  I  might  have 
the  cream-coloured  one  —  he  is  so  pretty." 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!  here's  a  little  goose.     Why,  they  are 


272  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

to  ride,  not  to  wear.  Come,  I  see  you  are  in  a  difficulty. 
Take  them  both  to  the  stable,  Tom." 

*'No!  no!  no!"  cried  Lucy.  *'Oh,  Mr.  Bazalgette, 
don't  tempt  me  to  be  so  wicked."  Then  she  put  both 
her  fingers  in  her  ears,  and  screamed,  '*Take  the  bay 
darling  out  of  my  sight,  and  leave  the  cream-coloured 
love."  And  as  she  persisted  in  this  order,  with  her 
fingers  in  her  ears,  and  an  inclination  to  stamp  with 
her  little  feet,  the  bay  disappeared,  and  colour  won 
the  day. 

Then  she  drooped  suddenly  like  a  cypress  toward 
Mr.  Bazalgette,  which  meant,  "you  can  kiss  me." 
This  time  it  was  her  cheek  she  proffered,  all  glowing 
with  exercise  and  innocent  excitement. 

Captain  Kenealy  was  the  first  arrival;  a  well- 
appointed  soldier;  eyes  equally  bright  under  calm  and 
excitement;  moustache  always  clean  and  glossy;  power 
of  assent  prodigious.  He  looked  so  warlike,  and  was  so 
inoffensive,  that  he  was  in  great  request  for  miles  and 

miles  round  the  garrison  town  of .     The  girls  at 

first  introduction  to  him  admired  him,  and  waited 
palpitating  to  be  torn  from  their  mammas,  and  carried, 
half  by  persuasion,  half  by  force,  to  their  conqueror's 
tent;  but  after  a  bit  they  always  found  him  out,  and 
talked  before,  and  at,  and  across  this  ornament,  as  if 
it  had  been  a  bronze  Mars,  or  a  moustache-tipped 
shadow.  This,  the  men  viewing  from  a  little  distance, 
envied  the  gallant  captain ;  and  they  might  just  as  well 
have  been  jealous  of  a  hairdresser's  dummy. 

One  eventful  afternoon,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  and  Miss 
Fountain  walked  out,  taking  the  gallant  captain  be- 
tween them  as  escort.     Reginald  hovered  on  the  rear. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  273 

Kenealy  was  charmingly  equipped,  and  lent  the  party  a 
lustre.  If  he  did  not  contribute  much  to  the  conversa- 
tion, he  did  not  interrupt  it,  for  the  ladies  talked 
through  him  as  if  he  had  been  a  column  of  red  air. 
Sing,  muse,  how  often  Kenealy  said  "yaas"  that  after- 
noon; on  second  thoughts,  don't!  I  can  weary  my 
readers  without  celestial  aid.  Toot!  toot!  toot!  went 
a  cheerful  horn,  and  the  mail-coach  came  into  sight 
round  a  corner,  and  rolled  rapidly  toward  them.  Lucy 
looked  anxiously  round  and  warned  Master  Reginald 
of  the  danger  now  impending  over  infants.  The 
terrible  child  went  instantly  (on  the  vitantes  stulti  vitia 
principle)  clean  off  the  road  altogether  into  the  ditch, 
and  clayed  (not  pipe)  his  trousers  to  the  knee.  As 
the  coach  passed,  a  gentleman  on  the  box  took  off  his 
hat  to  the  ladies  and  made  other  signs.  It  was  Mr. 
Hardie. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  proposed  to  return  home  to  receive 
him.  They  were  about  a  mile  from  the  house.  They 
had  not  gone  far  before  the  rear-guard  intermitted 
black-berrying  for  an  instant,  and  uttered  an  eldrich 
screech;  then  proclaimed,  "another  coach!  another 
coach!"  It  was  a  light  brake  coming  gently  along, 
with  two  showy  horses  in  it,  and  a  pony  trotting 
behind. 

At  one  and  the  same  moment  Lucy  recognised  a  four- 
footed  darling,  and  the  servant  recognised  her.  He 
drew  up,  touched  his  hat,  and  inquired  respectfully 
whether  he  was  going  right  for  Mr.  Bazalgette's.  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  gave  him  directions  while  Lucy^  was  patting 
the  pony,  and  showering  on  him  those  ardent  terms 
of  endearment  some  ladies  bestow  on  their  lovers,  but 
this  one  consecrated  to  her  trustees  and  quadrupeds. 


274  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

In  the  brake  were  saddles,  and  a  side-saddle,  and  other 
caparisons,  and  a  giant  box;  the  ladies  looked  first  at 
it,  and  then  through  Kenealy  at  one  another,  and  so 
settled  what  was  inside  that  box. 

They  had  not  walked  a  furlong  before  a  travelling- 
carriage  and  four  horses  came  dashing  along,  and  heads 
were  put  out  of  the  window  and  the  post-boys  ordered 
to  stop.  Mr.  Talboys  and  Mr.  Fountain  got  out,  and 
the  carriage  was  sent  on.  Introduction  took  place- 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  felt  her  spirits  rise  like  a  veteran's 
when  line  of  battle  is  being  formed.  She  was  one  of 
those  ladies  who  are  agreeable,  or  disagreeable,  at  will. 
She  decided  to  charm,  and  threw  her  enchantment  over 
Messrs.  Fountain  and  Talboys.  Coming  with  hostile 
views,  and  therefore  guilty  consciences,  they  had  ex- 
pected a  cold  welcome.  They  received  a  warm,  gay, 
and  airy  one.  After  a  while  she  manoeuvred  so  as  to 
get  between  Mr.  Fountain  and  Captain  Kenealy,  and 
leave  Lucy  to  Mr.  Talboys.  She  gave  her  such  a  sly 
look  as  she  did  it.  It  implied,  "You  will  have  to  tell 
me  all  he  says  to  you,  while  we  are  dressing." 

Mr.  Talboys  inquired  who  was  Captain  Kenealy. 
He  learned  by  her  answer  that  oflScer  had  arrived  to- 
day, and  she  had  no  previous  acquaintance  with  him. 

Whatever  little  embarrassment  Lucy  might  feel, 
remembering  her  equestrian  performance  with  Mr. 
Talboys  and  its  cause,  she  showed  none.  She  began 
about  the  pony,  and  how  kind  it  was  of  him  to  bring 
it.  "And  yet,''  said  she,  "if  I  had  known,  I  would 
not  have  allowed  you  to  take  the  trouble,  for  I  have  a 
pony  here." 

Mr.  Talboys  was  sorry  for  that;  but  he  hoped  she 
would  ride  his  now  and  then,  all  the  same. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  275 

"Oh!  of  course.  My  pony  here  is  very  pretty.  But 
a  new  friend  is  not  like  an  old  friend." 

Mr.  Talboys  was  gratified  on  more  accounts  than  one 
by  this  speech.  It  gave  him  a  sense  of  security.  She 
had  no  friend  about  her  now  she  had  known  as  long  as 
she  had  him;  and  those  three  months  of  constant  in- 
timacy placed  him  above  competition.  His  mind  was 
at  ease,  and  he  felt  he  could  pop  with  a  certainty  of 
success;  and  pop  he  would  too  without  any  unnecessary 
delay. 

The  party  arrived  in  great  content  and  delectation 
at  the  gates  that  led  to  the  house.  "Stay,"  said  Mrs.— -- 
Bazalgette,  "you  must  come  across  the  way,  all  of  you. 
Here  is  a  view  that  all  our  guests  are  expected  to  ad- 
mire. Those  that  cry  out  'charming!  beautiful!  oh, 
I  never!'  we  take  them  in  and  make  them  comfortable. 
Those  that  won't  or  can't  ejaculate " 

"You  poison  them,  and  then  put  them  in  damp 
beds,"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  only  half  in  jest. 

"Worse  thto  that,  sir.  We  flirt  with  them,  and 
disturb  the  paliid  current  of  their  hearts  for  ever  and 
ever.     Don't  we^  Lucy.^" 

"  You  know  best,  aunt,"  said  Lucy,  half  malice,  half 
pout.  The  others  followed  the  gay  lady,  and  when  the 
view  burst,  ejaculated  to  order. 

But  Mr.  Fountain  stood  ostentatiously  in  the  middle 
of  the  road,  with  his  legs  apart,  like  him  of  Rhodes. 
"I  choose  the  alternative,"  cried  he.  "Sooner  than 
pretend  I  admire  sixteen  ploughed  fields  and  a  hill, 
as  much  as  I  do  a  lawn  and  flower-beds,  I  elect  to  be 
flirted,  and  my,  what  do  you  call  'em  —  my  stagnant 
current  turned  into  a  whirlpool."     Ere  the  laugh  had 


276  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

well  subsided,  caused  by  this  imitation  of  Hercules  and 
his  choice,  he  struck  up  again,  '*Good  news  for  you, 
young  gentlemen;  I  smell  a  ball,  here  is  a  fiddle-case 
making  for  this  hospitable  mansion." 

*'No,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  *'I  never  ordered  any 
musician  to  come  here." 

A  tall  but  active  figure  came  walking  light  as  a 
feather,  with  a  large  carpet  bag  on  his  back;  a  boy  be- 
hind carrying  a  violin-case. 

Lucy  coloured  and  lowered  her  eyes,  but  never  said 
a   word. 

The  young  man  came  up  to  the  gate,  and  then  Mr. 
Talboys  recognised  him.  He  hesitated  a  single  mo- 
ment, then  turned  and  came  to  the  group,  and  took 
off  his  hat  to  the  ladies. 

It  was  David  Dodd. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

The  new  guest's  manner  of  presenting  himself  with 
his  stick  over  his  shoulder,  and  his  carpet  bag  on  his 
back,  subjected  him  to  a  battery  of  stares  from  Kenealy, 
Talboys,  Fountain;  and  abashed  him  sore. 

This  lasted  but  a  moment.  He  had  one  friend  in 
the  group  who  was  too  true  to  her  flirtations  while  they 
endured,  and  too  strong-willed  to  let  her  flirtee  be 
discouraged  by  mortal. 

"Why,  it  is  Mr.  Dodd,"  cried  she  with  enthusiasm, 
and  she  put  forth  both  hands  to  him,  the  palms  down- 
ward, with  a  smiling  grace.  "Surely  you  know  Mr. 
Dodd,"  said  she,  turning  round  quickly  to  the  gentle- 
men with  a  smile  on  her  lip,  but  a  dangerous  devil  in 
her  eye. 

The  mistress  of  the  house  is  all  powerful  on  these 
occasions.  Messrs.  Talboys  and  Fountain  were  forced 
to  do  the  amiable,  raging  within.  Lucy  anticipated 
them;  but  her  welcome  was  a  cold  one.  Says  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  tenderly,  "And  why  do  you  carry  that  heavy 
bag,  when  you  have  that  great  stout  lad  with  you.?  I 
think  it  is  his  business  to  carry  it,  not  yours;"  and  her 
eye  scathed  the  boy,  fiddle  and  all. 

All  the  time  she  was  saying  this  David  was  winking 
to  her,  and  making  faces  to  her  not  to  go  on  that  tack. 
His  conduct  now  explained  his  pantomime.  "Here, 
youngster,"  said  he,  "you  take  these  things  indoors, 
and  here  is  your  half-crown." 

Lucy  averted  her  head,  and  smiled  unobserved. 

277 


278  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

As  soon  as  the  lad  was  out  of  hearing,  David  con- 
tinued, "It  was  not  worth  while  to  mortify  him:  the 
fact  is  I  hired  him  to  carry  it,  but,  bless  you,  the  first 
mile  he  began  to  go  down  by  the  head,  and  would  have 
foundered;  so  we  shifted  our  cargoes."  This  amused 
Kenealy,  who  laughed  good-humouredly,  on  this  David 
laughed  for  company. 

'* There,"  cried  his  inamorata,  with  rapture,  "that 
is  Mr.  Dodd  all  over;  thinks  of  everybody,  high  or 
low,  before  himself."  There  was  a  grunt  somewhere 
behind  her;  her  quick  ear  caught  it;  she  turned  round 
like  a  thing  on  a  pivot  and  slapped  the  nearest  face  —  it 
happened  to  be  Fountain's ;  so  she  continued  with  such 
a  treacle  smile,  "Don't  you  remember,  sir,  how  he  used 
to  teach  your  cub  mathematics,  gratis.^"  The  sweet 
smile  and  the  keen  contemporaneous  scratch,  con- 
founded Mr.  Fountain  for  a  second.  As  soon  as  he  re- 
vived he  said  stifily,  "We  can  all  appreciate  Mr.  Dodd." 

Having  thus  established  her  Adonis  on  a  satisfactory 
footing,  she  broke  out  all  over  graciousness  again,  and, 
smiling  and  chatting,  led  her  guests  beneath  the  hospit- 
able roof. 

But  one  of  these  guests  did  not  respond  to  her  cheer- 
ful strain.  The  Norman  knight  was  full  of  bitterness. 
Mr.  Talboys  drew  his  friend  aside  and  proposed  to 
him  to  go  back  again.  The  senior  was  aghast.  "  Don't 
be  so  precipitate,"  was  all  he  could  urge  this  time. 
"Confound  the  fellow!  Yes!  if  that  is  the  man  she 
prefers  to  you,  I  will  go  home  with  you  to-morrow,  and 
the  vile  hussy  shall  never  enter  my  doors  again." 

In  this  mind  the  pair  went  devious  to  their  dressing- 
rooms. 

One  day  a  witty  woman  said  of  a  man,  that  "he 


LOVE  ME  LONG  279 

played  the  politician  about  turnips  and  cabbages." 
That  might  be  retorted  (by  a  snob  and  brute)  on  her 
own  sex  in  general,  and  upon  Mrs.  Bazalgette  in  par- 
ticular. This  sweet  lady  manoeuvred  on  a  carpet  like 
Marlborough  on  the  south  of  France.  She  was  brim- 
ful of  resources,  and  they  all  tended  toward  one  sacred 
object,  getting  her  own  way.  She  could  be  imperious 
at  a  pinch,  and  knock  down  opposition;  but  she  liked 
far  better  to  undermine  it,  dissolve  it,  or  evade  it.  She 
was  too  woman  to  run  straight  to  her  je-le-veux  so  long 
as  she  could  wind  thitherward  serpentinely,  and  by 
detour.  She  could  have  said  to  Mr.  Hardie,  **You 
will  take  down  Lucy  to  dinner."  and  to  Mr.  Dodd, 
"you  will  sit  next  me;"  but  no,  she  must  mould  her 
males  —  as  per  sample. 

To  Mr.  Fountain  she  said,  **Your  friend,  I  hear,  is 
of  old  family." 

**Came  in  with  the  Conqueror,  madam." 

"Then  he  shall  take  me  down;  that  will  be  the 
first  step  toward  conquering  me,  ha!  ha!"  Fountain 
bowed,  well  pleased. 

To  Hardie  she  said,  "Will  you  take  down  Lucy 
to-day.^  I  see  she  enjoys  your  conversation;  observe 
how  disinterested  I  am." 

Hardie  consented  with  twinkling  composure. 

Before  dinner  she  caught  Kenealy,  drew  him  aside, 
and  put  on  a  long  face.  "I  am  afriad  I  must  lose  you 
to-day  at  dinner.  Mr.  Dodd  is  quite  a  stranger,  and 
they  all  tell  me  I  must  put  him  at  his  ease." 

"Yaas." 

"Well,  then,  you  had  better  get  next  Lucy  as  you 
can't  have  me." 

"Yaas." 


^80  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"And,  Captain  Kenealy,  you  are  my  aide-de-camp. 
It  is  a  delightful  post,  you  know,  and  rather  a  trouble- 
some one." 

"Yaas." 

**You  must  help  me  be  kind  to  this  sailor." 

"Yaas.  He  is  a  good  fellaa;  carried  the  baeg  for 
the  little  caed." 

"Oh,  did  he?" 

"And  didn't  maind  been  laughed  at." 

"Now  that  shows  how  intelligent  you  must  be,'* 
said  the  wily  one;  "the  others  could  not  comprehend 
the  trait.  Well  you  and  I  must  patronise  him.  Merit 
is  always  so  dreadfully  modest." 

"Yaas." 

This  arrangement  was  admirable  but  human;  con- 
sequently not  without  a  flaw.  Uncle  Fountain  was 
left  to  chance,  like  the  flying  atoms  of  Epicurus,  and 
chance  put  him  at  Bazalgette's  right  hand,  save  one. 
From  this  point  his  inquisitive  eye  commanded  David 
Dodd  and  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  and  raked  Lucy  and  her 
neighbours,  who  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  table. 
People  who  look,  bent  on  seeing  everything,  generally 
see  something;  item,  it  is  not  always  what  they  would 
like  to  see. 

As  they  retired  to  rest  for  the  night,  Mr.  Fountain 
invited  his  friend  to  his  room. 

"We  shall  not  have  to  go  home.  I  have  got  the 
key  to  our  antagonist.  Young  Dodd  is  her  lover." 
Talboys  shook  his  head  with  cool  contempt. 
"What  I  mean  is  that  she  has  invited  him  for  her 
own  amusement,  not  her  niece's.  I  never  saw  a 
woman  throw  herself  at  any  man's  head  as  she  did 
at   that   sailor's   all   dinner.      Her  very  husband  saw 


LOVE  ME  LONG  281 

it.  He  IS  a  cool  hand,  that  Bazalgette,  he  only 
grinned,  and  took  wine  with  the  sailor.  He  has  seen 
a  good  many  go  the  same  road;  soldiers,  sailors, 
tinkers,  tai " 

Talboys  interrupted  him.  **I  really  must  call  you 
to  order.  You  are  prejudiced  against  poor  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette, and  prejudice  blinds  everybody.  Politeness 
required  that  she  should  show  some  attention  to  her 
neighbour,  but  her  principal  attention  was  certainly 
not  bestowed  on  Mr.  Dodd." 

Fountain  was  surprised.     "On  whom,  then.^" 

"Well,  to  tell  the  truth — on  your  humble  servant." 
Fountain  stared.  **I  observed  she  did  not  neglect 
you;  but  when  she  turned  to  Dodd  her  face  puckered 
itself  into  smiles  like  a  bag." 

"I  did  not  see  it,  and  I  was  nearer  her  than  you," 
said  Talboys  coldly. 

"But  I  was  in  front  of  her." 

"Yes,  a  mile  off."  There  being  no  jurisconsult 
present  to  explain  to  these  two  magistrates  that  if  fifty 
people  don't  see  a  lady  pucker  her  face  like  a  bag,  and 
one  does  see  her  p.  h.  f.  1.  a.  b.,  the  affirmative  evidence 
preponderates ;  they  were  very  near  coming  to  a  quarrel 
on  this  grave  point.  It  was  Fountain  who  made  peace; 
he  suddenly  remembered  that  his  friend  had  never  been 
known  to  change  an  opinion.  "Well,"  said  he,  "let 
us  leave  that;  we  shall  have  other  opportunities  of 
watching  Dodd  and  her.  Meantime  I  am  sorry  I  can- 
not convince  you  of  my  good  news;  for  I  have  some> 
bad  to  balance  it.  You  have  a  rival,  and  he  did  not 
sit  next  Mrs.  Bazalgette." 

"Pray,  may  I  ask  whom  he  did  sit  next.?"  sneered 
Talboys. 


2S2  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"He  sat  —  like  a  man  who  meant  to  win  —  by  the 
girl  herself." 

**Oh!  then  it  is  that  sing-song  captain  you  fear, 
sir?"  drawled  Talboys. 

**No,  sir,  no  more  than  I  dread  the  epergne.  Try 
the  other  side." 

*'What,  Mr.  Hardie.^  why,  he  is  a  banker." 

"And  a  rich  one." 

"She  would  never  marry  a  banker." 

"Perhaps  not,  if  she  were  uninfluenced;  but  remem- 
ber we  are  not  at  Talboys  Court  or  Font  Abbey  now. 
We  have  fallen  into  a  den  of  parvenues.  That  Hardie 
is  a  great  catch,  according  to  their  views;  and  all  Mrs. 
Bazalgette's  influence  with  Lucy  will  be  used  in  his 
favour,  or  I  am  much  mistaken." 

"I  think  not.  She  spoke  quite  slightingly  of  him 
to  me." 

"Did  she.^  then  that  puts  the  matter  quite  beyond 
doubt.  Why  should  she  speak  slightingly  of  him.? 
Bazalgette  spoke  to  me  of  him  with  awe  and  grave 
veneration.  He  is  handsome,  well-behaved,  and  the 
girl  talked  to  him  nineteen  to  the  dozen.  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette could  not  be  sincere  in  underrating  him.  She 
undervalued  him  to  throw  dust  in  your  eyes." 

"It  is  not  so  easy  to  throw  dust  in  my  eyes." 

"I  don't  say  it  is,  but  this  woman  will  do  it;  she  is 
as  artful  as  a  fox.  She  hoodwinked  even  me  for  a 
moment.  I  really  did  not  see  through  her  feigned 
politeness  in  letting  you  take  her  down  to  dinner." 

"You  mistake  her  character  entirely.  She  is  coquett- 
ish, and  not  so  well  bred  as  her  niece;  but  artful  she 
is  not.  In  fact,  there  is  almost  a  childish  frankness 
about  her." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  283 

At  this  stroke  of  observation  Fountain  burst  out 
laughing  bitterly. 

Talboys  turned  pale  with  suppressed  ire,  and  went 
on  doggedly,  "You  are  mistaken  in  every  particular. 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  has  no  fixed  views  for  her  niece,  and 
I  by  no  means  despair  of  winning  her  to  my  side.  She 
is  anything  but  discouraging." 

Fountain  groaned. 

*'  Mr.  Hardie  is  a  new  acquaintance,  and  Miss  Foun- 
tain told  me  herself  she  preferred  old  friends  to  new. 
She  looked  quite  conscious  as  she  said  it.  In  a  word, 
Mr.  Dodd  is  the  only  rival  I  have  to  fear  —  good-night!" 
and  he  went  out  with  a  stately  wave  of  the  hand,  like 
royalty  declining  further  conference.  Mr.  Fountain 
sank  into  an  arm-chair  and  muttered  feebly,  *' good- 
night." There  he  sat  collapsed  till  his  friend's  retiring 
steps  were  heard  no  more,  then  springing  wildly  to  his 
feet,  relieved  his  swelling  mind  with  a  long,  loud, 
articulated  roar  of  Anglo-Saxon.  *'Fool!  dolt!  cox- 
comb! noodle!  puppy!  ass  ! !  ! !  " 

Did  you  ever  read  TuUy  **de  Amicitia.^" 

David  Dodd  was  saved  from  misery  by  want  of  vani- 
ty. His  reception  at  the  gate  by  Miss  Fountain  was  cool 
and  constrained,  but  it  did  not  wound  him.  For  the  last 
month  life  had  been  a  blank  to  him.  She  was  his  sun. 
He  saw  her  once  more,  and  the  bare  sight  filled  him 
with  life  and  joy.  His  was  naturally  a  sanguine,  con- 
tented mind.  Some  lovers  equally  ardent  would  have 
seen  more  to  repine  at  than  to  enjoy  in  the  whole  situ- 
ation: not  so  David.  She  sat  between  Kenealy  and 
Hardie,  but  her  presence  filled  the  whole  room,  and  he 
who  loved  her  better  than  any  other  had  the  best  right 
to  be  happy  in  the  place  that  held  her.     He  had  only  to 


284  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

turn  his  eyes,  and  he  could  see  her.  What  a  blessing 
after  a  month  of  vacancy  and  darkness.  This  simple 
idolatry  made  him  so  happy  that  his  heart  overflowed 
on  all  within  reach.  He  gave  Mrs.  Bazalgette  answers 
full  of  kindness  and  arch  gaiety  combined.  He  charmed 
an  old  married  lady  on  his  right.  His  was  the  gay, 
the  merry  end  of  the  table,  and  others  wished  them- 
selves up  at  it. 

After  the  ladies  had  retired,  his  narrative  powers, 
bonhomie,  and  manly  frankness  and  good-nature  soon 
told  upon  the  men,  and  peals  of  genuine  laughter  echoed 
up  to  the  very  drawing-room;  bringing  a  deputation 
from  the  kitchen  to  the  key-hole,  and  irritating  the 
iadies  overhead,  who  sat  trickling  faint  monosyllables 
about  their  three  little  topics  and  a  half. 

Lucy  took  it  philosophically.  "Now  those  are  the 
good  creatures  that  are  said  to  be  so  unhappy  without 
us.  It  was  a  weight  off  their  minds  when  the  door 
closed  on  our  retiring  forms,  ha!  ha!" 

**It  was  a  restraint  taken  off  them,  my  dear,"  said 
Mrs.  Mordaunt,  a  starched  dowager,  stiffening  to  the 
naked  eye  as  she  spoke.  "When  they  laugh  like  that 
they  are  always  saying  something  improper." 

"Oh!  the  wicked  things,"  replied  Lucy,  mighty 
calmly. 

"I  wish  I  knew  what  they  are  saying,"  cried  eagerly 
another  young  lady;  then  added,  "oh!"  and  blushed, 
observing  her  error  mirrored  in  all  eyes. 

Lucy  the  Clement  instructed  her  out  of  the  depths  ci 
her  own  experience  in  impropriety:  "They  swear; 
that  is  what  Mrs.  Mordaunt  means,"  and  so  to  the 
piano  with  dignity. 

Presently  in  came  Messrs.  Fountain  and  Talboys 


LOVE  ME  LONG  285 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  asked  the  former  a  little  crossly  how  he 
could  make  up  his  mind  to  leave  the  gay  party 
downstairs. 

**Oh,  it  was  only  that  fellow  Dodd.  The  dog  is 
certainly  very  amusing,  but  'there's  metal  more  attrac- 
tive here.'  " 

Coffee  and  tea  were  fired  successively  at  the  other 
gentlemen  by  way  of  hints ;  but  Dodd  prevailed  over  all, 
and  it  was  nearly  bedtime  when  they  joined  the  ladies. 

Mr.  Talboys  had  an  hour  with  Lucy,  and  no  rival  by 
to  ruffle  him. 

Next  day  a  riding-party  was  organised.  Mr.  Talboys 
decided  in  his  mind  that  Kenealy  was  even  less  dan- 
gerous than  Hardie,  so  lent  him  the  quieter  of  his  two 
nags,  and  rode  a  hot  rampageous  brute,  whose  very 
name  was  Lucifer,  so  that  will  give  you  an  idea.  The 
grooms  had  driven  him  with  a  kicking-strap  and  two 
pair  of  reins,  and  even  so,  were  reluctant  to  drive  him 
at  all;  but  his  steady  companion  had  balanced  him  a 
bit.  Lucy  was  to  ride  her  old  pony,  and  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette the  new.  The  horses  came  to  the  door.  One  of 
the  grooms  offered  to  put  Lucy  up.  Talboys  waved 
him  loftily  back,  and  then,  strange  as  it  may  appear, 
David,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  saw  a  gentleman  lift 
a  lady  into  the  saddle. 

Lucy  laid  her  right  hand  on  the  pommel  and  resigned 
her  left  foot.  Mr.  Talboys  put  his  hand  under  that 
foot,  and  heaved  her  smoothly  into  the  saddle.  "That 
is  clever,"  thought  simple  David;  '*that  chap  has  got 
more  pith  in  his  arm  than  one  would  think."  They 
cantered  away  and  left  him  looking  sadly  after  them. 
It  seemed  so  hard  that  another  man  should  have  her 
sweet  foot  in  his  hand,  should  lift  her  whole  glorious 


286  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

person,  and  smooth  her  sacred  dress,  and  he  stand  by 
helpless ;  and  then  the  indifference  with  which  that  man 
had  done  it  all.  To  him  it  had  been  no  sacred  pleasure, 
no  great  privilege.  A  sense  of  loneliness  struck  chill  on 
David  as  the  clatter  of  her  pony's  hoofs  died  away.  He 
was  in  the  house;  but  in  that  house  was  a  kind  of  inner 
circle,  of  which  she  was  the  centre,  and  he  was  to  be 
outside  it  altogether. 

Liable  to  great  wrath  upon  great  occasions,  he  had 
little  of  that  small  irritability  that  goes  with  an  egotistical 
mind  and  a  feminine  fibre.  So  he  merely  hung  his  head, 
blamed  nobody,  and  was  a  little  sad  in  a  manly  way. 
While  he  leaned  against  the  portico  in  this  dejected 
mood,  a  little  hand  pulled  his  coat-tail.  It  was  Master 
Reginald,  who  looked  up  in  his  face  and  said  timidly, 
*'Will  you  play  with  me.?"  The  fact  is  Mr.  Reginald's 
natural  audacity  had  received  a  momentary  check.  He 
had  just  put  this  same  question  to  Mr.  Hardie  in  the 
library,  and  been  rejected  with  ignominy,  and  recom- 
mended to  go  out  of  doors  for  his  own  health  and  the 
comfort  of  such  as  desired  peaceable  study  of  British 
and  Foreign  intelligence. 

'*That  I  will,  my  little  gentleman,"  said  David,  '*if 
I  know  the  game." 

"Oh,  I  don't  care  what  it  is,  so  that  it  is  fun.  What 
is  your  name?" 

"David  Dodd." 

"Oh!" 
"And  what  is  yours?" 

"What,  don't  — you  — know?  ?  ?  Why,  Reginald 
George  Bazalgette.  I  am  seven!  I  am  the  eldest!  I 
am  to  have  more  money  than  the  others  when  papa 
dies,  Jane  says.     I  wonder  when  he  will  die." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  287 

"When  he  does  you  will  lose  his  love,  and  that  is 
worth  more  than  his  money;  so  you  take  my  advice, 
and  love  him  dearly  while  you  have  got  him." 

**Oh,  I  like  papa  very  well.  He  is  good-natured  all 
day  long.  Mamma  is  so  ill-tempered  till  dinner,  and 
then,  they  won't  let  me  dine  with  her;  and  then  as  soon 
as  mamma  has  begun  to  be  good-tempered  upstairs  in 
the  drawing-room,  my  bedtime  comes  directly  —  it 's 
abominable!  !"  The  last  word  rose  into  a  squeak  under 
his  sense  of  wrong. 

David  smiled  kindly,  **So  it  seems  we  all  have  our 
troubles,"   said  he. 

"What!  have  you  any  troubles?"  and  Reginald 
opened  his  eyes  in  wonder.  He  thought  size  was  an 
armour  against  care. 

"Not  so  many  as  most  folk,  thank  God,  but  I  have 
some,"  and  David  sighed. 

"Why,  if  I  was  as  big  as  you  I'd  have  no  troubles. 
I'd  beat  everybody  that  troubled  me,  and  I  would 
marry  Lucy  directly,"  and  at  that  beloved  name  my 
lord  falls  into  a  reverie  ten  seconds  long. 

David  gave  a  start,  and  an  ejaculation  rose  to  his  lips. 
He  looked  down  with  comical  horror  upon  the  little 
chubby  imp,  who  had  divined  his  thought. 

Mr.  Reginald  soon  undeceived  him.  "She  is  to  be 
my  wife,  you  know.  Don't  you  think  she  will  make  a 
capital  one.P"  Before  David  could  decide  this  point 
for  him,  the  kaleidoscopic  mind  of  the  terrible  infant 
had  taken  another  turn.  "Come  into  the  stable-yard, 
I'll  show  you  Tom,"  cried  young  master  enthusiastically. 
Finally  David  had  to  make  the  boy  a  kite.  When  made, 
it  took  two  hours  for  the  paste  to  dry;  and  as  every  ten 
minutes  spent  in  waiting  seemed  an  hour  to  one  of  Mr. 


288  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Reginald's  kidney  as  the  English  classics  phrase  it,  he 
was  almost  in  a  state  of  frenzy  at  last,  and  flew  his  new 
kite  with  yells.  But  after  a  bit  he  missed  a  familiar 
incident:  It  doesn't  tumble  down;  my  other  kites  all 
tumble  down." 

*'  More  shame  for  them,"  said  David,  with  a  dash  of 
contempt,  and  explained  to  him  that  tumbling  down  is 
a  flaw  in  a  kite,  just  as  foundering  at  sea  is  a  vile  habit 
in  a  ship;  and  that  each  of  these  descents,  however 
picturesque  to  childhood's  eye,  implies  a  construction 
originally  defective,  or  some  little  subsequent  mis- 
management. It  appeared  by  Reginald's  reply  that 
when  his  kite  tumbled,  he  had  the  tumultuous  joy  of 
flying  it  again;  but,  by  its  keeping  the  air  like  this, 
monotony  reigned.  So  he  now  proposed  that  his  new 
friend  should  fasten  the  string  to  the  pump-handle,  and 
play  at  ball  with  him  beneath  the  kite.  The  good- 
natured  sailor  consented;  and  thus  the  little  voluptuary 
secured  a  terrestrial  and  ever-varying  excitement,  while 
occasional  glances  upward  soothed  him  with  the  mild 
consciousness  that  there  was  his  property  still  hovering 
in  the  empyrean.  Amidst  all  which,  poor  love-sick 
David  was  seized  with  a  desire  to  hear  the  name  of  her 
he  loved,  and  her  praise,  even  from  these  small  lips. 

"So  you  are  very  fond  of  Miss  Lucy.?"  said  he. 

**Yes,"  replied  Reginald  drily,  and  said  no  more; 
for  it  is  a  characteristic  of  the  awfu'  bairn  to  be  mute 
where  fluency  is  required,  voluble  where  silence. 

"I  wonder  why  you  love  her  so  much,"  said  David 
cunningly.  Reginald's  face,  instead  of  brightening 
with  the  spirit  of  explanation,  became  instantly  lack- 
lustre and  dough-like;  for,  be  it  known  to  the  ever- 
lasting discredit  of  human  nature,  that  his  affection 


LOVE  ME  LONG  289 

and  matrimonial  intentions,  as  they  were  no  secret,  so 
they  were  the  butt  of  satire  from  grown-up  persons  of 
both  sexes  in  the  house,  and  of  various  social  grades: 
down  to  the  very  gardener  all  had  had  a  fling  at  him. 
But  soon  his  natural  cordiality  gained  the  better  of  that 
momentary  reserve.  "Well,  I'll  tell  you,"  said  he, 
*' because  you  have  behaved  well  all  day." 

David  was  all  expectation. 

"I  like  her  because  she  has  got  red  cheeks,  and  does 
whatever  one  asks  her." 

Oh  breadth  of  statement !  Why  was  not  David  one  of 
your  repeaters  ?  he  would  have  gone  and  told  Lucy. 
I  should  have  liked  her  to  know  in  what  grand  primitive 
colours  peach-bloom  and  queenly  courtesy  strike  what 
Mr.  Tennyson  is  pleased  to  call  "the  deep  mind  of 
dauntless  infancy."  But  David  Dodd  was  not  a  re- 
porter, and  so  I  don't  get  my  way;  and  how  few  of  us 
do  —  not  even  Mr.  Reginald,  whose  joyous  companion- 
ship with  David  was  now  blighted  by  a  footman.  At 
sight  of  the  plush  approaching,  "There,  now!"  cried 
Reginald.  He  anticipated  evil;  for  messages  from  the 
ruling  powers  were  nearly  always  adverse  to  his  joys. 
The  footman  came  to  say  that  his  master  would  feel 
obliged  if  Mr.  Dodd  would  step  into  his  study  for  a 
minute. 

David  went  immediately. 

"There,  now!"  squeaked  Reginald,  rising  an  octave. 
"I'm  never  happy  for  two  hours  together."  This  was 
true.  He  omitted  to  add,  "nor  unhappy  for  one." 
The  dear  child  sought  comfort  in  change  of  occupation ; 
he  took  stones,  and  pelted  the  footman's  retiring  calves. 
His  admirers,  if  any,  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  this  act 


290  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

of  intelligent  retribution  soothed  his  deep  mind  more 
or  less. 

Mr.  Bazalgette  had  been  much  interested  by  David's 
conversation  the  last  night,  and  hearing  he  was  not  with 
the  riding-party,  had  a  mind  to  chat  with  him.  David 
found  him  in  a  magnificent  study  lined  with  books,  and 
hung  with  beautiful  maps  that  lurked  in  mahogany 
cylinders  attached  to  the  wall ;  and  you  pulled  them  out 
by  inserting  a  brass-hooked  stick  into  their  rings,  and 
hauling.  Mr.  Bazalgette  began  by  putting  him  a 
question  about  a  distant  port  to  which  he  had  just  sent 
out  some  goods.  David  gave  him  full  information; 
began,  seaman  like,  with  the  entrance  to  the  harbour, 
and  told  him  what  danger  his  captain  should  look  out 
for  in  running  in,  and  how  to  avoid  it;  and  from  that 
went  to  the  character  of  the  natives,  their  tricks  upon 
the  sailors,  their  habits,  tastes,  and  fancies,  and  entering 
with  intelligence  into  his  companion's  business,  gave 
him  some  very  shrewd  hints  as  to  the  sort  of  cargo  that 
would  tempt  them  to  sell  the  very  rings  out  of  their 
ears.  Succeeding  so  well  in  this,  Mr.  Bazalgette  plied 
him  on  other  points,  and  found  him  full  of  valuable 
matter,  and,  by  a  rare  union  of  qualities,  very  modest 
and  very  frank.  **  Now  I  like  this,"  said  Mr.  Bazalgette 
cheerfully.  *'This  is  a  return  to  old  customs.  A 
century  or  two  ago,  you  know,  the  merchant  and  the 
captain  felt  themselves  part  of  the  same  stick;  and  they 
used  to  sit  and  smoke  together  before  a  voyage,  and  sup 
together  after  one,  and  be  always  putting  their  heads 
together.  But  of  late  the  stick  has  got  so  much  longer, 
and  so  many  knots  between  the  handle  and  the  point, 
that  we  have  quite  lost  sight  of  one  another.  Here  we 
merchants  sit  at  home  at  ease,  and  send  you  fine  fellows 


LOVE  ME  LONG  291 

out  amongst  storms  and  waves,  and  think  more  of  a 
bale  of  cotton  spoiled  than  of  a  captain  drowned." 

David:  ''And  we  eat  your  bread,  sir,  as  if  it  dropped 
from  the  clouds;  and  quite  forget  whose  money  and 
spirit  of  enterprise  causes  the  ship  to  be  laid  on  the 
stocks,  and  then  built,  and  then  rigged,  and  then 
launched,  and  then  manned,  and  then  sailed  from  port 
to  port." 

*' Well,  well,  if  you  eat  our  bread,  we  eat  your  labour, 
your  skill,  your  courage,  and  sometimes  your  lives,  I 
am  sorry  to  say.  Merchants  and  captains  ought  really 
to  be  better  acquainted." 

"Well,  sir,"  said  David,  '*now  you  mention  it,  you 
are  the  first  merchant  of  any  consequence  I  ever  had 
the  advantage  of  talking  with." 

"The  advantage  is  mutual,  sir;  you  have  given  me 
one  or  two  hints  I  could  not  have  got  from  fifty  mer- 
chants.    I  mean  to  coin  you,  Captain  Dodd." 

David  laughed,  and  blushed.  "I  doubt  it  will  be 
but  copper  coin  if  you  do.  But  I  am  not  a  captain,  I 
am  only  first  mate." 

"You  don't  say  so.?  Why,  how  comes  that.?" 

"Well,  sir,  I  went  to  sea  very  young;  but  I  wasted  a 
year  or  two  in  private  ventures.  When  I  say  wasted, 
I  picked  up  a  heap  of  knowledge  that  I  could  not  have 
gained  on  the  China  voyage,  but  it  has  lost  me  a  little 
in  length  of  standing;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  I  have 
been  very  lucky.  It  is  not  every  one  that  gets  to  be  first 
mate  at  my  age;  and  after  next  voyage  if  I  can 
only  make  a  little  bit  of  interest  I  think  I  shall  be  a 
captain.  No,  sir,  I  wish  I  was  a  captain!  I  never 
wished  it  as  now;"  and  David  sighed  deeply. 

"Humph!"  said  Mr.  Bazalgette,  and  took  a  note. 


292  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

He  then  showed  David  his  maps.  David  inspected 
them  with  almost  boyish  delight,  and  showed  the  mer- 
chant the  courses  of  ships  on  Eastern  and  Western 
voyages;  and  explained  the  winds  and  currents  that 
compelled  them  to  go  one  road  and  return  another,  and 
in  both  cases  to  go  so  wonderfully  out  of  what  seems  the 
track  as  they  do.  Bref,  the  two  ends  of  the  mercantile 
stick  got  nearer  and  nearer. 

"My  study  is  always  open  to  you,  Mr.  Dodd,  and  I 
hope  you  will  not  let  a  day  pass  without  obliging  me  by 
looking  in  upon  me." 

David  thanked  him,  and  went  out  innocently  uncon- 
scious that  he  had  performed  an  unparalleled  feat. 

In  the  hall  he  met  Captain  Kenealy,  who,  having 
received  orders  to  amuse  him,  invited  him  to  play  at 
billiards.  David  consented  out  of  good-nature  to 
please  Kenealy.  Thus  the  whole  day  passed,  and  les 
facheux  would  not  let  him  get  a  word  with  Lucy. 

At  dinner  he  was  separated  from  her,  and  so  hotly 
and  skilfully  engaged  by  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  that  he  had 
scarcely  time  to  look  at  his  idol.  After  dinner  he  had  to 
contest  her  with  Mr.  Talboys  and  Mr.  Hardie;  the 
latter  of  whom  he  found  a  very  able  and  sturdy  antago- 
nist. Mr.  Hardie  had  also  many  advantages  over  him. 
First,  the  young  lady  was  not  in  the  least  shy  with  Mr. 
Hardie,  but  the  parting  scene  beyond  Royston  had  put 
her  on  her  guard  against  David,  and  her  instinct  of 
defence  made  her  reserved  with  him.  Secondly,  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  was  perpetually  making  diversions,  whose 
double  object  was  to  get  David  to  herself,  and  leave 
Lucy  to  Mr.  Hardie. 

With  all  this  David  found,  to  his  sorrow,  that  though 
he  now  lived  under  the  same  roof  with  her,  he  was  not 


LOVE  ME  LONG  293 

so  near  her  as  at  Font  Abbey.  There  was  a  wall  of 
etiquette,  and  of  rivals,  and,  as  he  now  began  to  fear,  of 
her  own  dislike,  between  them.  To  read  through  that 
mighty  transparent  jewel  a  female  heart,  Nauta  had 
recourse,  to  what  do  you  think.?  to  arithmetic.  He 
set  to  work  to  count  how  many  times  she  spoke  to  each 
of  the  party  in  the  drawing-room;  and  he  found  that 
Mr.  Hardie  was  at  the  head  of  the  list,  and  he  was  at 
the  bottom.  That  might  be  an  accident;  perhaps  this 
was  his  black  evening.  So  he  counted  her  sp^eKes  the 
next  evening  —  the  result  was  the  same.  Droll  statistics ! 
but  sad  and  convincing  to  the  simple  David;  his  spirits 
failed  him,  his  aching  heart  turned  cold.  He  withdrew 
from  the  gay  circle,  and  sat  sadly  with  a  book  of  prints 
before  him,  and  turned  the  leaves  listlessly.  In  a  pause 
of  the  conversation  a  sigh  was  heard  in  the  corner. 
They  all  looked  round  and  saw  David  all  by  himself, 
turning  over  the  leaves,  and  evidently  not  inspecting 
them. 

A  flash  of  satirical  curiosity  went  from  eye  to  eye. 

But  tact  abounded  at  one  end  of  the  joom,  if  there 
was  a  dearth  of  it  at  the  other. 

*'ia  rusee  sans  le  savoir'^  made  a  sign  to  them  all 
to  take  no  notice,  contemporaneously  she  whispered, 
**  Going  to  sea  in  a  few  days,  for  two  years;  the  thought 
will  return  now  and  then."  Having  said  this  with  a 
look  at  her  aunt,  that.  Heaven  knows  how,  gave  the 
others  the  notion  that  it  was  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette  she 
owed  the  solution  of  David's  fit  of  sadness,  she  glided 
easily  into  indifferent  topics.  So  then  the  others  had 
a  momentary  feeling  of  pity  for  David.  Miss  Lucy 
noticed  this  out  of  the  tail  of  her  eye. 

That  night  David  went  to  bed  thoroughly  wretched. 


294  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

He  could  not  sleep.  So  he  got  up,  and  paced  the  deck 
of  his  room  with  a  heavy  heart.  At  last  in  his  despair 
he  said,  **I'li  fire  signals  of  distress."  So  he  sat  down 
and  took  a  sheet  of  paper,  and  fired,  **  Nothing  has 
turned  as  I  expected.  She  treats  me  like  a  stranger.  I 
seem  to  drop  astern,  instead  of  making  any  way.  Here 
are  three  of  us,  I  do  believe,  and  all  seem  preferred  to 
your  poor  brother;  and,  indeed,  the  only  thing  that 
gives  me  any  hope  is  that  she  seems  too  unkind  to  be  in 
earnest,  for  it  is  not  in  her  angelic  nature  to  be  really 
unkind;  and  what  have  I  done.^  Eve  dear,  such  a 
change  from  what  she  was  at  Font  Abbey,  and  that 
happy  evening  when  she  came  and  drank  tea  with  us, 
and  lighted  our  little  garden  up,  and  won  your  heart 
that  was  always  a  little  set  against  her.  Now  it  is  so 
different  that  I  sit  and  ask  myself  whether  all  that  is 
not  a  dream.  Can  any  one  change  so  in  one  short 
month  .^  I  could  not.  But,  who  knows,  perhaps  I  do 
her  wrong.  You  know  I  never  could  read  her  at  home, 
without  your  help,  and,  dear  Eve,  I  miss  you  now  from 
my  side  most  sadly.  Without  you  I  seem  to  be  adrift 
without  rudder  or  compass." 

Then  as  he  could  not  sleep,  he  dressed  himself,  and 
went  out  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  He  roamed 
about  with  a  heavy  heart.  At  last  he  bethought  him  of 
his  fiddle;  since  Lucy's  departure  from  Font  Abbey 
this  had  been  a  great  solace  to  him.  It  was  at  once 
a  depository  and  vent  to  him,  he  poured  out  his  heart 
to  it,  and  by  it.  Sometimes  he  would  fancy,  while  he 
played,  that  he  was  describing  the  beauties  of  her  mind 
and  person;  at  others,  regretting  the  sad  fate  that 
separated  him  from  her;  or,  hope  reviving,  would  see 
her  near  him,  and  be  telling  her  how  he  loved  her,  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  295 

so  great  an  inspirer  is  love,  he  had  invented  more  than 
one  clear  melody  during  the  last  month,  he  who  up  to 
that  time  had  been  content  to  render  the  thoughts  of 
others  like  most  fiddlers — and  composers. 

So  he  said  to  himself,  '*I  had  better  not  play  in  the 
house,  or  I  shall  wake  them  out  of  their  first  sleep." 
He  brought  out  his  violin ;  got  amongst  some  trees  near 
the  stable-yard,  and  tried  to  soothe  his  sorrowful  heart. 
He  played  sadly,  sweetly,  and  dreamingly.  He  bade 
the  magic  shell  tell  all  the  world  how  lonely  he  was; 
only  the  magic  shell  told  it  so  tenderly  and  tunefully 
that  he  soon  ceased  to  be  alone.  The  first  arrival  was 
on  four  legs:  Pepper,  a  terrier  with  a  taste  for  sounds. 
Pepper  arrived  cautiously,  though  in  a  state  of  pro- 
found curiosity,  and  being  too  wise  to  trust  at  once  to 
his  ears,  avenue  of  sense  by  which  we  are  all  so  much 
ofttimes  deceived  than  by  any  other,  he  first  smelt  the 
musician  carefully  and  minutely  all  round.  What  he 
learned  by  this  he  and  his  Creator  alone  know;  but 
apparently  something  reassuring,  for  as  soon  as  he  had 
thoroughly  snuffed  his  Orpheus,  he  took  up  a  position 
exactly  opposite  him,  sat  up  high  on  his  tail,  cocked  his 
nose  well  into  the  air,  and  accompanied  the  violin  with 
such  vocal  powers  as  Nature  had  bestowed  on  him.  Nor 
did  the  sentiment  lose  anything,  in  intensity  at  all 
events,  by  the  vocalist.  If  David's  strains  were  plaintive. 
Pepper's  were  lugubrious ;  and,  what  may  seem  extraor- 
dinary, so  long  as  David  played  softly,  the  cerberus  of 
the  stable-yard  whined  musically,  and  tolerably  in  tune. 
But  when  he  played  loud,  or  fast,  poor  Pepper  got 
excited,  and  in  his  wild  endeavours  to  equal  the  violin, 
vented  dismal  and  discordant  howls  at  unpleasantly 
short  intervals.     All  this  attracted  David's  attention. 


296  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

and  he  soon  found  he  could  play  upon  Pepper  as  well 
as  the  fiddle,  raising  him,  and  subduing  him  by  turns; 
only,  like  the  ocean,  Pepper  was  not  to  be  lulled  back 
to  his  musical  ripple  quite  so  quickly  as  he  could  be 
lashed  into  howling  frenzy.  While  David  was  thus 
playing,  and  Pepper  showing  a  fearful  broadside  of 
ivory  teeth,  and  flinging  up  his  nose  and  sympathising 
loudly,  and  with  a  long  face,  though  not  perhaps  so 
deeply  as  he  looked,  suddenly  rang  behind  David  a 
chorus  of  human  chuckles.  David  wheeled,  and  there 
were  six  young  women's  faces  set  in  the  foliage,  and 
laughing  merrily.  Though  perfectly  aware  that  David 
would  look  round,  they  seemed  taken  quite  by  surprise 
when  he  did  look  round,  and  with  military  precision 
became  instantly  two  files;  for  the  four  impudent  ones 
ran  behind  the  two  modest  ones,  and  there  by  an  inno- 
cent instinct  tied  their  cap  strings,  which  were  previously 
floating  loose,  their  custom  even  in  the  early  morning. 

'*Play  us  something  merry,  sir,"  hazarded  one  of 
the  mock-modest  ones  in  the  rear. 

'*  Sha'  n't  I  be  taking  you  from  your  work .?"  objected 
David,  drily. 

"Oh!  all  work  and  no  play  is  bad  for  the  body," 
replied  the  minx,  keeping  ostentatiously  out  of  sight. 

Good-natured  David  played  a  merry  tune  in  spite  of 
his  heart;  and  even  at  that  disadvantage  it  was  so  spirit- 
stirring  compared  with  anything  the  servants  had  heard, 
that  it  made  them  all  frisky,  of  which  disposition  Tom 
the  stable-boy,  who  just  then  came  into  the  yard,  took 
advantage,  and  leading  out  one  of  the  housemaids  by 
the  polite  process  of  hauling  at  her  with  both  hands, 
proceeded  to  country  dancing,  in  which  the  others  soon 
demurely  joined. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  297 

Now  all  this  was  wormwood  to  poor  David;  for  to 
play  merriment  when  the  heart  is  too  heavy  to  be  cheered 
by  it,  makes  that  heart  bitter  as  well  as  sad.  But  the 
good-natured  fellow  said  to  himself,  "Poor  things,  I 
dare  say  they  work  from  morning  till  night,  and  seldom 
see  pleasure  but  at  a  distance;  why  not  put  on  a  good 
face,  and  give  them  one  merry  hour?"  So  he  played 
hornpipes  and  reels  till  all  their  hearts  were  on  fire,  and 
faces  red,  and  eyes  glittering,  and  legs  aching,  and  he 
himself  felt  ready  to  burst  out  crying,  and  then  he  left 
off.  As  for  il-penseroso  Pepper,  he  took  this  intrusion 
of  merry  music  upon  his  sympathies  very  ill.  He  left 
singing,  and  barked  furiously  and  incessantly  at  these 
ancient  English  melodies,  and  at  the  dancers;  and  kept 
running  from,  and  running  at,  the  women's  whirling 
gowns  alternately,  and  lost  his  mental  balance,  and  at 
last,  having  by  a  happier  snap  than  usual,  torn  off  two 
feet  of  the  under  housemaid's  frock,  shook  and  worried 
the  fragment  with  insane  snarls  and  gleaming  eyes,  and 
so  zealously  that  his  existence  seemed  to  depend  on  its 
annihilation. 

David  gave  those  he  had  brightened  a  sad  smile,  and 
went  hastily  indoors.  He  put  his  violin  into  its  case,  and 
sealed  and  directed  his  letter  to  Eve.  He  could  not  rest 
indoors.  So  he  roamed  out  again;  but  this  time  he  took 
care  to  go  on  the  lawn.  Nobody  would  come  there,  he 
thought,  to  interrupt  his  melancholy.  He  was  doomed 
to  be  disappointed  in  that  respect.  As  he  sat  in  the  little 
summer-house  with  his  head  on  the  table,  he  suddenly 
heard  an  elastic  step  on  the  dry  gravel.  He  started 
peevishly  up,  and  saw  a  lady  walking  briskly  towards 
him;  it  was  Miss  Fountain. 

She  saw  him  at  the  same  instant.  She  hesitated  a 


298  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

single  half  moment;  then,  as  escape  was   impossible, 
resumed  her  course.     David  went  bashfully  to  meet  her. 

"Good-morning,  Mr.  Dodd,"  said  she  in  the  most 
easy  unembarrassed  way  imaginable. 

He  stammered  a  "good -morning,"  and  flushed  with 
pleasure  and  confusion. 

He  walked  by  her  side  in  silence.  She  stole  a  look 
at  him,  and  saw  that  after  the  first  blush  at  meeting 
her  he  was  pale  and  haggard.  On  this  she  dashed  into 
singularly  easy  and  cheerful  conversation  with  him, 
told  him  that  this  morning  walk  was  her  custom,  **My 
substitute  for  rouge,  you  know.  I  am  always  the  first 
up  in  this  languid  house,  but  I  must  not  boast  before 
you,  who  I  dare  say  turn  out  —  is  not  that  the  word  ?  — 
at  day-break.  But  now  I  think  of  it!  no!  you  would 
have  crossed  my  hawse  before,  Mr.  Dodd,"  using 
naval   phrases   to   flatter  him. 

"It  was  my  ill-luck,  I  always  cruised  a  mile  off.  I 
had  no  idea  this  bit  of  gravel  was  your  quarter-deck." 

"It  is,  though,  because  it  is  always  dry.  You  would 
not  like  a  quarter-deck  with  that  character,  would 
you?" 

"Oh,  yes,  I  should.  I'd  have  my  bowsprit  always 
wet,  and  my  quarter-deck  always  dry.  But  it  is  no  use 
wishing  for  what  we  cannot  have." 

"That  is  very  true,"  said  Lucy  quietly. 

David  reflected  on  his  own  words,  and  sighed  deeply. 

This  did  not  suit  Lucy.  She  plied  him  with  airy 
nothings,  that  no  man  can  arrest  and  impress  on  paper, 
but  the  tone  and  smile  made  them  pleasing;  and  then 
she  asked  his  opinion  of  the  other  guests  in  such  a  way 
as  implied  she  took  some  interest  in  his  opinion  on  them, 
but  mighty  little  in  the  people  themselves.     In  short  she 


LOVE  ME  LONG  299 

chatted  with  him  like  an  old  friend  —  and  nothing  more ; 
but  David  was  not  subtle  enough  in  general,  nor  just 
now  calm  enough  to  see  on  what  footing  all  this 
cordiality  was  offered  him.  His  colour  came  back,  his 
eye  brightened,  happiness  beamed  on  his  face;  and  the 
lady  saw  it  from  under  her  lashes. 

**How  fortunate  I  fell  in  with  you  here.  You  are 
yourself  again  —  on  your  quarter-deck.  I  scarce  knew 
you  the  last  few  days.  I  was  afraid  I  had  offended  you. 
You  seemed  to  avoid  me." 

"Nonsense,  Mr.  Dodd,  what  is  there  about  you  to 
avoid.?" 

"Plenty,  Miss  Fountain,  I  am  so  inferior  to  your  other 
friends." 

"I  was  not  aware  of  it,  Mr.  Dodd." 

"And  I  have  heard  your  sex  has  gusts  of  caprice,  and 
I  thought  the  cold  wind  was  blowing  upon  me;  and 
that  did  seem  very  sad,  just  when  I  am  going  out,  and 
perhaps  shall  never  see  your  sweet  face  or  hear  your 
lovely  voice  again." 

"Don't  say  that,  Mr.  Dodd!  or  you  will  make  me 
sad  in  earnest.  Your  prudence  and  courage,  and  a 
kind  Providence,  will  carry  you  safe  through  this  voyage, 
as  they  have  through  so  many;  and  on  your  return  the 
acquaintance  you  do  me  the  honour  to  value  so  highly 
will  await  you  —  if  it  depends  on  me." 

All  this  was  said  kindly  and  beautifully,  and  almost 
tenderly,  but  still  with  a  certain  majesty  that  forbade 
love-making;  rendered  it  scarce  possible,  except  to  a 
fool.  But  David  was  not  captious.  He  could  not,  like 
the  philosopher,  sift  sunshine.  For  some  days  he  had 
been  almost  separated  from  her.  Now  she  was  by  his 
side.     He  adored  her  so  that  he  could  no  longer  realise 


300  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

sorrow  or  disappointment  to  come.  They  were  uncer- 
tain—  future.  The  light  of  her  eyes,  and  voice,  and 
face,  and  noble  presence  were  here:  he  basked  in 
them. 

He  told  her  not  to  mind  a  word  he  had  said :  **  It  was 
all  nonsense.     I  am  happy  now  —  happier  than  ever." 

At  this  Lucy  looked  grave,  and  became  silent. 

David,  to  amuse  her,  told  her  there  was  *'a  singing 
dog  abroad,"  and  would  she  like  to  hear  him  ? 

This  was  a  happy  diversion  for  Lucy.  She  assented 
gaily.  David  ran  for  his  fiddle,  and  then  for  Pepper. 
Pepper  wagged  his  tail,  but  strong  as  his  musical  taste 
was,  would  not  follow  the  fiddle.  But  at  this  juncture 
Master  Reginald  dawned  on  the  stable-yard  with  a  huge 
slice  of  bread  and  butter.  Pepper  followed  him.  So 
the  party  came  on  the  lawn,  and  joined  Lucy.  Then 
David  played  on  the  violin,  and  Pepper  performed 
exactly  as  hereinbefore  related.  Lucy  laughed  merrily, 
and  Reginald  shrieked  with  delight;  for  the  vocal 
terrier  was  mortal  droll. 

"But,  setting  Pepper  aside,  that  is  a  very  sweet  air 
you  are  playing  now,  Mr.  Dodd.  It  is  full  of  soul,  and 
feeling." 

"Is  it.?"  said  David,  looking  wonderstruck ;  "you 
know  best." 

"Who  is  the  composer.?" 

David  looked  confused,  and  said,  "No  one  of 
any  note." 

Lucy  shot  a  glance  at  him,  keen  as  lightning.  What 
with  David's  simplicity,  and  her  own  remarkable  talent 
for  reading  faces,  his  countenance  was  a  book  to  her, 
wide  open,  Bible  print.  "The  composer's  name  is 
Mr.  Dodd,"  said  she  quietly. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  301 

*'I  little  thought  you  would  be  satisfied  with  it," 
replied  David  obliquely. 

"Then  you  doubt  my  judgment  as  well  as  your  own 
talent." 

'*My  talent!  I  should  never  have  composed  an  air 
that  would  bear  playing  but  for  one  thing." 

'*And  what  was  that.^"  said  Lucy,  affecting  vast 
curiosity.  She  felt  herself  on  safe  ground  now  —  the 
fine  arts. 

**You  remember  when  you  went  away  from  Font 
Abbey,  and  left  us  all  so  heavy-hearted." 

"I  remember  leaving  Font  Abbey,"  replied  Lucy 
with  saucy  emphasis,  and  an  air  of  lofty  disbelief  in  the 
other  incident. 

"  Well,  I  used  to  get  my  fiddle  and  think  of  you  so  far 
away,  and  sweet  sad  airs  came  to  my  heart,  and  from  my 
heart  they  passed  into  the  fiddle.  Now  and  then  one 
seemed  more  worthy  of  you  than  the  rest  were,  and 
then  I  kept  that  one." 

"You  mean  you  took  the  notes  down,"  said  Lucy, 
coldly. 

**  Oh,  no !  there  was  no  need,  I  wrote  in  my  head,  and 
in  my  heart.  May  I  play  you  another  of  your  tunes  ? 
I  call  them  your  tunes." 

Lucy  blushed  faintly,  and  fixed  her  eyes  on  the 
ground;  she  gave  a  slight  signal  of  assent,  and  David 
played  a  melody. 

"It  is  very  beautiful,"  said  she  in  a  low  voice.  "Play 
it  again.     Can  you  play  it  as  we  walk.?" 

"Oh,  yes."  He  played  it  again.  They  drew  near 
the  hall  door.  She  looked  up  a  moment,  and  then 
demurely  down  again, 

"  Now  will  you  be  so  good  as  play  the  first  one  twice." 


302  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

She  listened  with  her  eyelashes  drooping.  "Tweedle 
dee!  tweedle  dum!  tweedle  dee."  '*  And  now  we  will  go 
into  breakfast,"  cried  Lucy,  with  sudden  cheerfulness, 
and,  almost  with  the  word,  she  darted  up  the  steps,  and 
entered  the  house  without  even  looking  to  see  whether 
David  followed  or  what  became  of  him. 

He  stood  gazing  through  the  open  door  at  her  as  she 
glided  across  the  hall,  swift  and  elastic,  yet  serpentine, 
and  graceful  and  stately  as  Juno  at  nineteen. 

"Et    vera    incessu    patuit    lady." 

These  Junones,  severe  in  youthful  beauty,  fill  us 
Davids  with  irrational  awe;  but  the  next  moment  they 
are  treated  like  small  children  by  the  very  first  matron 
they  meet.  They  resign  their  judgment  at  once  to  hers, 
and  bow  their  wills  to  her  lightest  word,  with  a  slavish 
meanness. 

Creation's  unmarried  lords,  realise  your  true  position 
—  girls  govern  you,  and  wives  govern  girls. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette,  on  Lucy's  entrance,  ran  a  critical 
eye  over  her,  and  scolded  her  like  a  six-year-old  for 
walking  in  thin  shoes. 

"Only  on  the  gravel,  aunt,"  said  the  divine  slave 
submissively. 

"No  matter;  it  rained  last  night.  I  heard  it  patter. 
You  want  to  be  laid  up,  I  suppose." 

**I  will  put  on  thicker  ones  in  future,  dear  aunt," 
murmured  the  celestial  serf. 

Now  Mrs.  Bazalgette  did  not  really  care  a  button 
whether  the  servile  angel  wore  thick  soles  or  thin.  She 
was  cross  about  something  a  mile  off  that.  As  soon 
as  she  had  vented  her  ill-humour  on  a  sham  cause,  she 


LOVE  ME  LONG  303 

came  to  its  real  cause  good-temperedly.  "And,  Lucy 
love,  do  manage  better  about  Mr.  Dodd." 

Lucy  turned  scarlet.  Luckily,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was 
evading  her  niece's  eye,  so  did  not  see  her  tell-tale  cheek. 

"He  was  quite  thrown  out  last  night;  and  really  as 
he  does  not  ride  with  us,  it  is  too  bad  to  neglect  him 
indoors." 

"Oh,  excuse  me,  aunt,  Mr.  Dodd  is  your  protege. 
You  did  not  even  tell  me  you  were  going  to  invite  him." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  that  I  certainly  did.  Poor 
fellow,  he  was  out  of  spirits  last  night." 

"Well,  but,  aunt,  surely  you  can  put  an  admirer  in 
good  spirits  when  you  think  proper,"  said  Lucy  slily. 

"  Humph !  I  don't  want  to  attract  too  much  attention. 
I  see  Bazalgette  watching  me,  and  I  don't  choose  to  be 
misinterpreted  myself  or  give  my  husband  pain." 

She  said  this  with  such  dignity  that  Lucy,  who  knew 
her  regard  for  her  husband,  had  much  ado  not  to  titter. 
But  courtesy  prevailed,  and  she  said  gravely,  "I  will 
do  whatever  you  wish  me,  only  give  me  a  hint  at  the 
time,  a  look  will  do,  you  know." 

The  ladies  separated :  they  met  again  at  the  breakfast- 
room  door.  Laughter  rang  merrily  inside,  and  amongst 
the  gayest  voices  was  Mr.  Dodd's.  Lucy  gave  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  an  arch  look.  "  Your  patient  seems  better ; " 
and  they  entered  the  room,  where  sure  enough  they 
found  Mr.  Dodd  the  life  and  soul  of  the  assembled  party. 

"A  letter  from  Mrs.  Wilson,  aunt." 

"And,  pray,  who  is  Mrs.  Wilson.?" 

"My  nurse.  She  tells  me  'it  is  five  years  since  she 
has  seen  me,  and  she  is  wearying  to  see  me.'  What  a 
droll  expression,  'wearying.'  " 

"Ah!"  said  David  Dodd. 


S04  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"You  have  heard  the  word  before,  Mr.  Dodd?" 

*'No,  I  can't  say  I  have;  but  I  know  what  it  must 
mean." 

*' Lying  becalmed  at  the  Equator,  eh,  Dodd.^"  said 
Bazalgette,  misunderstanding  him. 

*'Mrs.  Wilson  tells  me  she  has  taken  a  farm  a  few 
miles  from  this." 

**  Interesting  intelligence,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette. 

**And  she  says  she  is  coming  over  to  see  me  one  of 
these  days,  aunt,"  said  Lucy,  with  a  droll  expression, 
half  arch,  half  rueful.  She  added  timidly,  '*  There  is 
no  objection  to  that,  is  there  .f^" 

"None  whatever,  if  she  does  not  make  a  practice  of 
it;  only,  mind  these  old  servants  are  the  greatest  pests 
on  earth." 

"I  remember  now,"  said  Lucy  thoughtfully;  "Mrs. 
Wilson  was  always  very  fond  of  me.  I  cannot  think 
why,  though." 

"No  more  can  I,"  said  Mr.  Hardie  drily ;"  she  must 
be  a  thoroughly  unreasonable  woman." 

Mr.  Hardie  said  this  with  a  good  deal  of  grace  and 
humour;  and  a  laugh  went  round  the  table. 

"I  mean,  she  only  saw  me  at  intervals  of  several 
years." 

"  Why,  Lucy,  what  an  antiquity  you  are  making  your- 
self," said  Fountain. 

But  Lucy  was  occupied  with  her  puzzle. 

"She  calls  me  her  nursling,"  said  Lucy  sotto  voce,  to 
her  aunt,  but,  of  course,  quite  audibly  to  the  rest  of  the 
company;  "her  dear  nursling;"  and  says  "she  will  walk 
fifty  miles  to  see  me.  Nursling  ?  hum !  there  is  another 
word  I  never  heard,  and  I  do  not  exactly  know.  Then 
she  says " 


LOVE  ME  LONG  305 

"  TaiseZ'Vous,  petite  sotte"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  in  a 
sharp  whisper,  so  admirably  projected  that  it  was 
intelligible  only  to  the  ear  it  was  meant  for. 

Lucy  caught  it  and  stopped  short,  and  sat  looking  by 
main  force  calm  and  dignified,  but  scarlet,  and  in  secret 
agony.  *'I  have  said  something  amiss,"  thought  Lucy, 
and  was  truly  wretched. 

"We  don't  believe  in  Mrs.  Wilson's  affection  on  this 
side  the  table,"  said  Mr.  Hardie;  **but  her  revelations 
interest  us,  for  they  prove  that  Miss  Fountain  had  a 
beginning;  now  we  had  thought  she  rose  from  the  foam 
like  Venus,  or  sprung  from  Jove's  brow  like  Minerva, 
or  descended  from  some  ancient  pedestal  flawless  as  the 
Parian  itself." 

**What,  sir,"  cried  Bazalgette  furiously,  *'did  you 
think  our  niece  was  built  in  a  day,  so  fair  a  structure, 
so  accomplished  a -" 

"Will  you  be  quiet,  good  people  .^ "  said  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette; "she  was  born,  she  was  bred,  she  was  brought 
up,  in  which  I  had  a  share,  and  she  is  a  very  good  girl 
if  you  gentlemen  will  be  so  good  as  not  to  spoil  her  for 
me  with  your  flattery." 

"There!"  said  Lucy  courageously,  enforcing  her 
aunt's  thunderbolt;  and  she  leaned  toward  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette and  shot  back  a  glance  of  defiance,  with  arching 
neck,  at  Mr.  Bazalgette. 

After  breakfast  she  ran  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette.  "What 
was  it?" 

"Oh,  nothing;  only  the  gentlemen  were  beginning 
to  grin." 

"Oh,  dear!  did  I  say  anything  —  ridiculous?" 

"No,  because  I  stopped  you  in  time.     Mind,  Lucy, 


306  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

it  is  never  safe  to  read  letters  out  from  people  in  that 
class  of  life ;  they  talk  about  everything,  and  use  words 
that  are  quite  out  of  date.  I  stopped  you  because  I 
know  you  are  a  simpleton,  and  so  I  could  not  tell  what 
might  pop  out  next." 

"Oh,  thank  you,  aunt!  thank  you!"  cried  Lucy 
warmly.     "Then  I  did  not  expose  myself  after  all." 

"No,  no;  you  said  nothing  that  might  not  be  pro- 
claimed at  Paul's  Cross,  ha!  ha!" 

"Am  I  a  simpleton,  aunt.?"  inquired  Lucy,  in  the 
tone  of  an  indifferent  person  seeking  knowledge. 

"  Not  you,"  replied  this  oblivious  lady.  "  You  know  a 
great  deal  more  than  most  girls  of  your  age.  To  be  sure, 
girls  that  have  been  at  a  fashionable  school  generally 
manage  to  learn  one  or  two  things  you  have  no  idea  of." 

"Naturally." 

"As  you  say;  he!  he!  But  you  make  up  for  it,  my 
dear,  in  other  respects.  If  the  gentlemen  take  you  for 
a  pane  of  glass  —  why  —  all  the  better ;  meantime, 
shall  I  tell  you  your  real  character.?  I  have  only  just 
discovered  it  myself." 

"Oh  yes,  aunt,  tell  me  my  character.  I  should  so 
like  to  hear  it  from  you." 

"Should  you.?"  said  the  other,  a  little  satirically; 
"well  then,  vou  are  an  in-nocent  fox." 

"Aunt!"^ 

"  An  in-no-cent  fox ;  so  run  and  get  your  workbox.  I 
want  you  to  run  up  a  tear  in  my  flounce." 

Lucy  went  thoughtfully  for  her  workbox,  murmuring 
ruefully,  "I  am  an  in-nocent  fox.  I  am  an  in-nocent 
fox." 

She  did  not  like  her  new  character  at  all ;  it  mortified 
her,  and  seemed  self-contradictory  as  well  as  derogatory. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  307 

On  her  return  she  could  not  help  remonstrating, 
"How  can  that  be  my  character?  A  fox  is  cunning, 
and  I  despise  cunning;  and  /  am  sure  I  am  not  innocent," 
added  she,  putting  up  both  hands  and  looking  penitent. 
With  all  this,  a  shade  of  vexation  was  painted  on  her 
lovely  cheeks,  as  she  appealed  against  her  epigram. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  (with  the  calm  inexorable  superiority 
of  matron  despotism).  "You  are  an  in-no-cent  fox!! 
Is  your  needle  threaded?  here  is  the  tear;  no,  there. 
I  caught  against  the  flower-pot  frame,  and  I  'II  vow  I 
heard  my  gown  go.  Look  lower  down,  dear.  Don't 
give  it  up." 

All  which  may  perhaps  remind  the  learned  and  sneer- 
ing reader  of  another  fox;  the  one  that  "had  a  wound, 
and  he  could  not  tell  where." 

They  rode  out  to-day  as  usual,  and  David  had  the 
equivocal  pleasure  of  seeing  them  go  from  the  door. 

Lucy  was  one  of  the  first  down,  and  put  her  hand  on 
the  saddle,  and  looked  carelessly  round  for  somebody 
to  put  her  up.  David  stepped  hastily  forward,  his  heart 
beating,  seized  her  foot,  never  waited  for  her  to  spring, 
but  went  to  work  at  once,  and  with  a  powerful  and  sus- 
tained effort  raised  her  slowly  and  carefully  like  a  dead 
weight  and  settled  her  in  the  saddle.  His  grip  hurt 
her  foot.  She  bore  it  like  a  Spartan  sooner  than  lose 
the  amusement  of  his  simplicity  and  enormous  strength, 
so  drolly  and  unnecessarily  exerted.  It  cost  her  a  little 
struggle  not  to  laugh  right  out,  but  she  turned  her  head 
away  from  him  a  moment  and  was  quit  for  a  spasm. 
Then  she  came  round  with  a  face  all  candour. 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Dodd,"  said  she  demurely;  and 
her  eyes  danced  in  her  head.     Her  foot  felt  encircled 


308  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

with  an  iron  band,  but  she  bore  him  not  a  grain  of  malice 
for  that;  and  away  she  cantered,  followed  by  his  long- 
ing eyes. 

David  bore  the  separation  well.  "  To-morrow  morn- 
ing I  shall  have  her  all  to  myself,"  said  he.  He  played 
with  Kenealy  and  Reginald,  and  chatted  with  Bazal- 
gette.  In  the  evening  she  was  surrounded  as  usual, 
and  he  obtained  only  a  small  share  of  her  attention. 
But  the  thought  of  the  morrow  consoled  him.  He 
alone  knew  that  she  walked  before  breakfast. 

The  next  morning  he  rose  early,  and  sauntered 
about  till  eight  o'clock,  and  then  he  came  on  the  lawn 
and  waited  for  her.  She  did  not  come.  He  waited, 
and  waited,  and  waited.  She  never  came.  His  heart 
died  within  him.  "She  avoids  me,"  said  he;  **it  is  not 
accident.  I  have  driven  her  out  of  her  very  garden ;  she 
always  walked  here  before  breakfast  (she  said  so),  till 
I  came  and  spoiled  her  walk  —  heaven  forgive  me." 

David  could  not  flatter  himself  that  this  interruption 
of  her  acknowledged  habit  was  accidental.  On  the 
other  hand,  how  kind  and  cheerful  she  had  been  with 
him  on  the  same  spot  yesterday  morning;  to  judge  by  her 
manner  his  company  on  her  quarter-deck  was  not 
unwelcome  to  her.  Yet  she  kept  her  room  to-day,  from 
the  window  of  which  she  could  probably  see  him 
walking  to  and  fro,  longing  for  her.  The  bitter  dis- 
appointment was  bad  enough,  but  here  tormenting 
perplexity  as  to  its  cause  was  added,  and  between  the 
two  the  pining  heart  was  racked. 

This  is  the  crudest  separation;  mere  distance  is  the 
mildest.  WTiere  land  and  sea  alone  lie  between  two 
loving  hearts,  they  pine  but  are  at  rest;  a  piece  of  paper 
and  a  few  lines  traced  by  the  hand  that  reads  like  a 


LOVE  IVIE  LONG  309 

face  —  and  the  two  sad  hearts  exult  and  embrace  one 
another  afresh  in  spite  of  a  hemisphere  of  dirt  and  salt 
water  that  parts  bodies  but  not  minds.  But  to  be  close 
yet  kept  aloof  by  red-hot  iron  and  chilling  ice,  by  rivals, 
by  etiquette  and  cold  indifference ;  to  be  near  yet  far  — 
this  is  to  be  apart;  this,  this  is  separation. 

A  gush  of  rage  and  bitterness  foreign  to  his  natural 
temper  came  over  David  Dodd.  "Since  I  can't  have 
the  girl  I  love,  I  will  have  nobody  but  my  own  thoughts. 
I  cannot  bear  the  others  and  their  chat  to-dav.  I  will 
go  and  think  of  her,  since  that  is  all  she  will  let  me  do;" 
and  directly  after  breakfast  David  walked  out  on  the 
downs  and  made  by  instinct  for  the  sea.  The  wounded 
deer  shunned  the  lively  herd. 

The  ladies,  as  they  sat  in  the  drawing-room,  received 
visits  of  a  less  flattering  character  than  usual.  Reginald 
kept  popping  in,  inquiring,  "Where  was  Mr.  Dodd.?" 
and  would  not  believe  they  had  not  hid  him  somewhere. 
He  was  followed  by  Kenealy,  who  came  in  and  put 
them  but  one  question,  "Where  is  Dawd.?" 

"We  don't  know,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette  sharply, 
"we  have  not  been  entrusted  with  the  care  of  Mr. 
Dodd." 

Kenealy  sauntered  forth  disconsolate.  Finally  Mr. 
Bazalgette  put  his  head  in,  and  surveyed  the  room 
keenly  but  in  silence;  so  then  his  wife  looked  up  and 
asked  him  satirically  if  he  did  not  want  Mr.  Dodd. 

"Of  course  I  do,"  was  the  gracious  reply;  "what 
else  should  I  come  here  for.?" 

"Well,  he  is  lost;  you  had  better  put  him  in  the  Hue 
and  Cry.'' 

La  Bazalgette  was  getting  jealous  of  her  own  flirtee; 


310  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

he  attracted  too  much  of  that  attention  she  loved 
so  dear. 

At  last,  Reginald,  despairing  of  Dodd,  went  in 
search  of  another  playmate,  Master  Christmas,  a  young 
gentleman  a  year  older  than  himself,  who  lived  within 
half  a  mile.  Before  he  went,  he  inquired  what  there 
was  for  his  dinner  ?  and  being  informed  *' roast  mutton," 
was  not  enraptured;  he  then  asked  with  greater  solici- 
tude what  was  the  pudding,  and  being  told  **rice," 
betrayed  disgust  and  anger,  as  was  remembered  when 
too  late. 

At  two  o'clock,  the  day  being  fine,  the  ladies  went 
for  a  long  ride,  accompanied  by  Talboys  only.  Kenealy 
excused  himself,  '*He  must  see  if  he  could  not  find 
Dawd." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  started  in  a  pet;  but,  after  the  first 
canter,  she  set  herself  to  bewitch  Mr.  Talboys,  just 
to  keep  her  hand  in.  She  flattered  him  up  hill  and 
down  dale.     Lucy  was  silent  and  distraite. 

*'From  that  hill  you  look  right  down  upon  the  sea," 
said  Mrs.  Bazalgette;  "what  do  you  say.?  it  is  only  two 
miles  further." 

On  they  cantered,  and  leaving  the  high-road,  dived 
into  a  green  lane,  which  led  them,  by  a  gradual  ascent, 
to  Mariner's  Folly,  on  the  summit  of  the  cliff.  Mariner's 
Folly  looked  at  a  distance  like  an  enormous  bush  in  the 
shape  of  a  lion;  but  when  you  came  nearer,  you  saw 
it  was  three  remarkably  large  blackthorn-trees  planted 
together.  As  they  approached  it  at  a  walk  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette told  Mr.  Talboys  its  legend. 

*'The  trees  were  planted  a  hundred  and  fifty  years 
ago  by  a  retired  buccaneer." 

"Aunt,  now,  it  was  onlv  a  lieutenant." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  311 

"Be  quiet,  Lucy,  and  don't  spoil  me;  I  call  him  a 
buccaneer.  Some  say  it  is  named  his  *  Folly,'  because 
you  must  know  his  ghost  comes  and  sits  here  at  times, 
and  that  is  an  absurd  practice,  shivering  in  the  cold. 
Others  more  learned  say  it  comes  from  a  Latin  word 
'folio,'  or  some  such  thing,  that  means  a  leaf,  the  mari- 
ner's leafy  screen."  She  then  added,  with  reckless 
levity,  "I  wonder  whether  we  shall  find  Buckey  on 
the  other  side  looking  at  the  ships  through  a  ghostly 
telescope  —  ha !  ha !  —  ah !  ah !  —  help !  —  mercy !  for- 
give me!  Oh,  dear,  it  is  only  Mr.  Dodd  in  his  jacket! 
—  you  frightened  me  so.  Oh!  oh!  There  —  I  am  ill. 
Catch  me,  somebody!"  and  she  dropped  her  whip,  and, 
seeing  David's  eye  was  on  her,  subsided  backwards 
with  considerable  courage,  and  trustfulness,  and,  for 
the  second  time,  contrived  to  be  in  her  flirtee's  arms. 

I  wish  my  friend  Aristotle  had  been  there.  I  think 
he  would  have  been  pleased  at  her  ar^x^voia  in  turning 
even  her  terror  of  the  supernatural  so  quickly  to  account, 
and  making  it  subservient  to  flirtation. 

David  sat  heart-stricken  and  hopeless,  gazing  at 
the  sea.  The  hours  passed  by  his  heavy  heart  unheeded. 
The  leafy  screen  deadened  the  light  sound  of  the  horses' 
feet  on  the  turf,  and  moreover  his  senses  were  all  turned 
inwards.  They  were  upon  him,  and  he  did  not  move, 
but  still  held  his  head  in  his  hands  and  gazed  upon  the 
sea.  At  Mrs.  Bazalgette's  cries  he  started  up,  and 
looked  confusedly  at  them  all.  But  when  she  did  the 
fainting  business,  he  thought  she  was  going  to  faint, 
and  caught  her  in  his  arms;  and,  holding  her  in  them 
a  moment,  as  if  she  had  been  a  child,  he  deposited 
her   very  gently  in  a  sitting  posture    at   the   foot   of 


312  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

one  of  the  trees,  and  taking  her  hand,  slapped  it  to 
bring  her  to. 

"Oh,  don't!  you  hurt  me,"  cried  the  lady  in  her 
natural  voice. 

Lucy,  barbarous  girl,  never  came  to  her  aunt's 
assistance.  At  the  first  fright  she  seemed  slightly  agitated, 
but  she  now  sat  impassive  on  her  pony,  and  even  wore 
a  satirical  smile. 

"Now,  dear  aunt,  when  you  have  done,  Mr.  Dodd 
will  put  you  on  your  horse  again." 

On  this  hint  David  lifted  her  like  a  child,  malgre  a 
little  squeak  she  thought  it  well  to  utter,  and  put  her 
in  the  saddle  again.  She  thanked  him  in  a  low  mur- 
muring voice.  She  then  plied  David  with  a  host  of 
questions.  "  How  came  he  so  far  from  home  .^"  '*  Why 
had  he  deserted  them  all  day.?"  David  hung  his  head, 
and  did  not  answer.  Lucy  came  to  his  relief:  "It 
would  be  as  well  if  you  would  make  him  promise  to 
be  home  in  time  for  dinner,  and,  by  the  way,  I  had  a 
favour  to  ask  of  you,  Mr.  Dodd .?" 

"A  favour  to  ask  of  me.?" 

"Oh,  you  know  we  all  make  demands  upon  your 
good-nature   in   turn." 

"That  is  true,"  said  La  Bazalgette  tenderly;  "I 
don't  know  what  will  become  of  us  all  when  he  goes." 

Lucy  then  explained,  "That  the  masked  ball, 
suggested  by  Mr.  Talboys's  beautiful  dresses,  was  to  be 
very  soon,  and  she  wanted  Mr.  Dodd  to  practise  quad- 
rilles and  waltzes  with  her;  it  will  be  so  much  better  with 
the  violin  and  piano,  than  with  a  piano  alone,  and  you 
are  such  an  excellent  timeist  —  will  you,  Mr.  Dodd.?" 

"That  I  will,"  said  David,  his  eyes  sparkling  with 
delight,—  "  thank  you ! " 


LOVE  ME  LONG  313 

*'Then  as  I  shall  practise  before  the  gentlemen 
join  us,  and  it  is  four  o'clock  now,  had  you  not  better 
turn  your  back  to  the  sea,  and  make  the  best  of  your 
way  home?" 

"I  will  be  there  almost  as  soon  as  you." 
"Indeed;  what,  on  foot,  and  we  on  horseback?" 
"Ay!  but  I  can  steer  in  the  wind's  eye." 
"Aunt,  Mr.  Dodd  proposes  a  race  home." 
"With  all  my  heart.     How  much  start  are  we  to 
give  him?" 

None  at  all,"  said  David;  "are  you  ready  ?  then  give 
way,"  and  he  started  down  the  hill  at  a  killing  pace. 

The  equestrians  were  obliged  to  walk  down  the  hill, 
and  when  they  reached  the  bottom  David  was  going  as 
the  crow  flies,  across  some  meadows  half-a-mile  a-head. 
A  good  canter  soon  brought  them  on  a  line  with  him; 
but  every  now  and  then  the  turns  of  the  road  and  the 
hills  gave  him  an  advantage.  Lucy,  naturally  kind- 
hearted,  would  have  relaxed  her  pace  to  make  the  race 
more  equal,  but  Talboys  urged  her  on;  and  as  a  horse 
is,  after  all,  a  faster  animal  than  a  sailor,  they  rode  in 
at  the  front  gate  while  David  was  still  two  fields  off. 

"Come,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette  regretfully,  "we  have 
beat  him,  poor  fellow;  but  we  won't  go  in  till  we  see 
what  has  become  of  him." 

As  they  looked  on  the  lawn,  Henry,  the  footman, 
came  out  with  a  salver,  and  on  it  reposed  a  soiled  note. 
Henry  presented  it  with  demure  obsequiousness,  then 
retired  grinning  furtively. 

"What  is  this,  a  begging  letter  ?  What  a  vile  hand! 
Look,  Lucy,  did  you  ever?  Why,  it  must  be  some 
pauper." 

"Have  a  little  mercy,  aunt,"  said  Lucy  piteously; 


314  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"that  hand  has  been  formed  under  my  care  and  daily 
superintendence;  it  is  Reginald's." 

**Oh,  that  alters  the  case.  What  can  the  dear  child 
have  to  say  to  me!  Ah,  the  little  wretch!  Send  the 
servants  after  him  in  every  direction!  Oh,  who  would 
be  a  mother!" 

The  letter  was  written  in  lines  with  two  pernicious 
defects.  1st.  They  were  like  the  wooden  part  of  a 
bow  instead  of  its  string.  2nd.  They  yielded  to 
gravity;  kept  tending  down,  down,  to  the  right  hand 
corner  more  and  more.  In  the  use  of  capitals  the 
writer  had  taken  the  copyhead  as  his  model.  The 
style,  however,  was  pithy,  and  in  writing  that  is  the 
first  Christian  grace.  No,  I  forgot,  it  is  the  second, 
pellucidity  is  the  first. 

"Dear  mama, 

"me  and  johny  cristmas 

Are  gone  to  the  north  pole  his 

Unkle  went  twise  we  shall  be 

Back  in  siks  munths 

Please  give  my  love  to  lucy  and 

Papa  and  ask  lucy  to  be  kind  to 

My  ginnipigs  i  shall  want  them 

Wen  i  come  back,     too  much 

Cabiges  is  not  good  for  ginnipigs. 

Wen  i  come  back  i  hope  there 

Will  be  no  rise  left,     it  is  very 

Unjust  to  give  me  those  nasty 

Messy  pudens  i  am  not  a  child 

There  filthy  there  abbommanabel. 

Johny  says  it  is  f  uny  at  the  north 

Pole  and  there  are  bares  and  they 

Are  wite. 

"I  remain 
"Your  duteful  son 
"Reginald  George  Bazalgete." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  315 

This  innocent  missive  set  house  and  premises  in  an 
uproar.  Henry  was  sent  east  through  the  dirt,  multa 
reluctantem,  in  white  stockings.  Tom  galloped  north. 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  sat  in  the  hail,  and  did  well-bred 
hysterics  for  Keanely  and  Talboys.  Lucy  pinned  up 
her  habit,  and  ran  to  the  boundary  hedge  on  the  bare 
chance  of  seeing  the  figures  of  the  truants  somewhere 
short  of  the  horizon.  Lo  and  behold,  there  was  David 
Dodd  crossing  the  very  nearest  field,  and  coming  toward 
her,  an  urchin  in  each  hand. 

Lucy  ran  to  meet  them.  *'Oh,  you  dear,  naughty 
children,  what  a  fright  you  have  given  us.  Oh,  Mr. 
Dodd,  how  good  of  you!  Where  did  you  find  them.?" 

' '  Under  that  hedge  eating  apples.  They  tell  me  they 
sailed  for  the  North  Pole  this  morning,  but  fell  in  with 
a  pirate  close  under  the  land,  so  'bout  ship  and  came 
ashore  again." 

'*A  pirate,  Mr.  Dodd.?  Oh,  I  see;  a  beggar,  a 
tramp." 

"A  deal  worse  than  that.  Miss  Lucy.  Now,  young- 
ster, why  don't  you  spin  your  own  yarn .?" 

*'Yes,  tell  me,  Reggy." 

"Well,  dear,  when  I  had  written  to  mamma,  and 
Johnny  had  folded  it,  because  I  can  write  but  I  can't 
fold  it,  and  he  can  fold  it  but  he  can't  write  it,  we  went 
to  the  North  Pole,  and  we  got  a  mile;  and  then  we  saw 
that  nasty  Newfoundland  dog  sitting  in  the  road  waiting 
to  torment  us.  It  is  farmer  Johnson's,  and  it  plays 
with  us,  and  knocks  us  down,  and  licks  us,  and  frightens 
us,  and  we  hate  it;  so  we  came  home." 

'*Ha!  ha!  good,  prudent  children.  Oh,  dear,  you 
have  had  no  dinner." 

"  Oh,  yes,  we  had,  Lucy,  such  a  nice  one:  we  bought 


316  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

such  a  lot  of  apples  of  a  woman.  I  never  had  a  dinner 
all  apples  before;  they  always  spoil  them  with  mutton 
and  things,  and  that  nasty,  nasty  rice." 

"Hear  to  that,"  shouted  David  Dodd.  "They 
have  been  dining  upon  vargese"  (verjuice),  "and  them 
growing  children.  I  shall  take  them  into  the  kitchen 
and  put  some  cold  beef  into  their  little  holds  this  minute, 
poor  little  lambs." 

"  Oh,  yes,  do ;  and  I  will  run  and  tell  the  good  news." 
She  ran  across  the  lawn  and  came  into  the  hall  red 
with  innocent  happiness  and  agitation.  "They  are 
found,  aunt;  they  are  found;  don't  cry.  Mr.  Dodd 
found  them  close  by.  They  have  had  no  dinner,  so 
that  good  kind  Mr.  Dodd  is  taking  them  into  the  kitchen. 
I  will  send  Master  Christmas  home  with  a  servant. 
Shall  I  bring  you  Reggy  to  kiss.^" 

"No,  no;  wicked  little  wretch!  to  frighten  his  poor 
mother!     Whip  him,  somebody,  and  put  him  to  bed." 

In  the  evening,  soon  after  the  ladies  had  left  the 
dining-room,  the  pianoforte  was  heard  playing  quadrilles 
in  the  drawing-room.  David  fidgeted  on  his  seat  a 
little,  and  presently  rose  and  went  for  his  violin,  and 
joined  Lucy  in  the  drawing-room  alone.  Mrs.  B.  was 
trying  on  a  dress.  Between  the  tunes  Lucy  chatted 
with  him  as  freely  and  kindly  as  ever.  David  was  in 
heaven.  When  the  gentlemen  came  up  from  the 
dining-room,  his  joy  was  interrupted,  but  not  for  long. 
The  two  musicians  played  with  so  much  spirit,  and  the 
fiddle,  in  particular,  was  so  hearty,  that  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette  proposed  a  little  quiet  dance  on  the  carpet;  and 
this  drew  the  other  men  away  from  the  piano,  and  left 
David  and  Lucy  to  themselves.     She  stole  a  look  more 


LOVE  ME  LONG  317 

than  once  at  his  bright  eyes  and  rich  ruddy  colour,  and 
asked  herself,  *'Is  that  really  the  same  face  we  found 
looking  wan  and  haggard  on  the  sea.  I  think  I  have 
put  an  end  to  that,  at  all  events."  The  consciousness 
of  this  sort  of  power  is  secretly  agreeable  to  all  men 
and  all  women,  whether  they  mean  to  abuse  it  or  no. 
She  smiled  demurely  at  her  mastery  over  this  great  heart, 
and  said  to  herself,  **One  would  think  I  was  a  witch." 
Later  in  the  evening  she  eyed  him  again,  and  thought  to 
herself,  "If  my  company  and  a  few  friendly  words  can 
make  him  so  happy,  it  does  seem  very  hard  I  should 
select  him  to  shun  for  the  few  days  he  has  to  pass  in 
England  now  —  but  then  if  I  let  him  think  —  I  don't 
know  what  to  do  with  him.     Poor  Mr.  Dodd." 

Miss  Fountain  did  not  torment  her  bolder  aspirants 
with  alternate  distance  and  familiarity.  She  rode  out 
every  fine  day  with  Mr.  Talboys,  and  was  all  affability. 
She  sat  next  Mr.  Hardie  at  dinner,  and  was  all  affability. 

Narrative  has  its  limits;  and,  to  relate  in  some 
sequence  the  honest  sailor's  tortures  in  love  with  a 
tactician,  I  have  necessarily  omitted  concurrent  inci- 
dents of  a  still  tamer  character;  but  the  reader  may, 
by  the  help  of  his  own  intelligence,  gather  their  general 
results  from  the  following  dialogues,  which  took  place 
on  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  terrible  infant's 
escapade. 

Mrs,  Bazalgette.  **Well,  my  dear  friend,  and  how 
does  this  naughty  girl  of  mine  use  you .?" 

Mr.  Hardie.  "As  well  as  I  could  expect,  and  better 
than  I  deserve." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette.  "Then  she  must  be  cleverer  than 
any  girl  that  ever  breathed.  However,  she  does  appre- 
ciate your  conversation;  she  makes  no  secret  of  it." 


318  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Mr.  H.  **I  have  so  little  reason  to  complain  of  my 
reception,  that  I  will  make  my  proposal  to  her  this 
evening,  if  you  think  proper. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  started,  and  glanced  admiration  on 
a  man  of  eight  thousand  a  year,  who  came  to  the  point 
of  points  without  being  either  cajoled  or  spurred  thither 
but  she  shook  her  head.  "Prudence,  my  dear  Mr. 
Hardie,  prudence.  Not  just  yet.  You  are  making 
advances  every  day;  and  Lucy  is  an  odd  girl  —  with 
all  her  apparent  tenderness,  she  is  unimpressionable." 

*'That  is  only  virgin  modesty,"  said  Hardie  dogmati- 
cally. 

"Fiddle-stick,"  replied  Mrs.  B.  good-humouredly. 
"The  greatest  flirts  I  ever  met  with  were  virgins,  as 
you  call  them.  I  tell  you  she  is  not  disposed  toward 
marriage  as  all  other  girls  are  —  until  they  have  tasted 
its  bitters." 

Mr,  H,  "If  I  know  anything  of  character,  she  will 
make  a  very  loving  wife." 

Mrs,  B,  (sharply).  "That  means  a  nice  little  negro. 
Well,  I  think  she  might,  when  once  caught;  but  she  is 
not  caught,  and  she  is  slippery,  and,  if  you  are  in  too 
great  a  hurry,  she  may  fly  off.  But,  above  all,  we  have 
a  dangerous  rival  in  the  house  just  now." 

Mr.  H.  "What,  that  Mr.  Talboys.?  I  don't  fear 
him.     He  is  next  door  to  a  fool." 

Mrs.  B.  "What  of  that  ?  fools  are  dangerous  rivals 
for  a  lady's  favour.  We  don't  object  to  fools.  It 
depends  on  the  employment.  There  is  one  oflfice  we 
are  apt  to  select  them  for." 

Mr.  H.     "A  husband,  eh?"     The  lady  nodded. 

Mrs.  B.  "I  meant  to  marry  a  fool  in  Bazalgette; 
but    I    found    my    mistake.     The    wretch    had    only 


LOVE  ME  LONG  319 

feigned  absurdity.  He  came  out  in  his  true  colours 
directly." 

Mr.  H,  "A  man  of  sense,  eh  ?  The  sinister  hypo- 
crite! He  only  wore  the  cap  and  bells  to  allure  un- 
guarded beauty;  and  doffed  them  when  he  donned 
the  wedding  suit." 

Mrs.  B.  '*Yes.  But  these  are  reminiscences  so 
sweet  —  that  I  shall  be  glad  to  return  from  them  to  your 
little  affair;  seriously,  then,  Mr.  Talboys  is  not  to  be 
overlooked,  for  this  reason:  he  is  well  backed." 

*'By  whom.?" 

"By  some  one  who  has  influence  with  Lucy:  her 
nearest  relation,  Mr.  Fountain." 

**What,  is  he  nearer  to  her  than  you  are.?" 

**  Certainly,  and  she  is  fond  of  him  to  infatuation. 
One  day  I  did  but  hint  that  selfishness  entered  into  his 
character  (he  is  eaten  up  with  it),  and  that  he  told  fibs; 
Mr.  Hardie,  she  turned  round  on  me  like  a  tigress; 
oh!  how  she  made  me  cry!" 

The  keen  hand,  Hardie,  smiled  satirically,  and  after 
a  pause,  answered  with  consummate  coolness:  *'I 
believe  thus  much ;  that  she  loves  her  uncle,  and  that  his 
influence,  exerted  unscrupulously  " 

**  Which  it  will  be.  He  may  be  strong  enough  to 
spoil  us,  even  though  he  should  not  be  able  to  carry 
his  own  point ;  now,  trust  me,  my  dear  friend,  Lucy's 
preference  is  clearly  for  you,  but  I  know  the  weakness 
of  my  own  sex;  and,  above  all,  I  know  Lucy  Fountain. 
A  mouse  can  help  a  lion  in  a  matter  of  small  threads, 
too  small  for  his  nobler  and  grander  wisdom  to  see. 
Let  me  be  your  mouse  for  once."  The  little  woman 
caught  the  great  man  with  the  everlasting  hook,  and 
the  discussion  ended  in  **claw  me  and  I  will  claw  thee," 


320  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

and  in  the  mutual  self-complacency  that  follows  that 
arrangement.     Vide  the  Scotch  Reviews. 

Mr,  H,  **I  really  think  she  would  accept  me  if  I 
offered  to-day;  but  I  have  so  high  an  opinion  of  your 
sagacity  and  friendship  for  me,  madam,  that  I  will 
defer  my  judgment  to  yours.  I  must,  however,  make 
one  condition,  that  you  will  not  displace  my  plan  with- 
out suggesting  a  distinct  course  of  action  for  me  to 
adopt  in  its  place." 

This  smooth  proposal,  made  quietly  but  with  twink- 
ling eye,  would  have  shut  the  mouth  of  nine  advisers 
in  ten;  but  it  found  the  Bazalgette  prepared. 

'* Oh!  the  pleasure  of  having  a  man  of  ability  to  deal 
with,"  cried  she  with  enthusiasm.  '*This  is  my  advice' 
then:  stay  Mr.  Fountain  out.  He  must  go  in  a  day 
or  two.  His  time  is  up,  and  I  will  drop  a  hint  of  fresh 
visitors  expected.  ^Vhen  he  is  gone,  warm  by  degrees, 
and  offer  yourself  either  in  person  or  through  Bazalgette 


or  me." 


**In  person,  then,  certainly.  Of  all  foibles,  employ- 
ing another  pair  of  eyes,  another  tongue,  and  another 
person,  to  make  love  for  one,  is  surely  the  silliest." 

**I  am  quite  of  your  opinion,"  cried  the  lady,  with  a 
hearty  laugh. 

Mr.  Fountain.     "So  you  are  satisfied  with  the  state    .  il 
of  things." 

Mr.  Talboys,  "  Yes,  I  think  I  have  beaten  the  sailor 
out  of  the  field." 

"Well,  but  — this  Hardie." 

"Hardie!  a  shopkeeper.     I  don't  fear  him." 

**In  that  case,  why  not  propose  ?  I  have  been  doing 
the  preliminaries  —  sounding  your  praises." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  321 

Mr.  Talhoys  (tyranically).  "I  propose  next  Sat- 
urday." 

Mr,  Fountain.     "Very  well." 

Talhoys,     "In  the  boat." 

*'In  the  boat?     What  boat?  there's  no  boat." 

**I  have  asked  her  to  sail  with  me  from in  a 

boat;  there  is  a  very  nice  little  lugger-rigged  one.  I 
am  having  the  seats  padded,  and  stuffed  and  lined, 
and  an  awning  put  up,  and  the  boat  painted  white 
and  gold." 

"Bravo!     Cleopatra's  galley." 

"I  assure  you  she  looks  forward  to  it  with  pleasure; 
she  guesses  why  I  want  to  get  her  into  that  boat.  She 
hesitated  at  first;  but  at  last  she  consented  with  a  look 
—  a  conscious  look.     I  can  hardly  describe  it." 

"There  is  no  need,"  cried  Fountain.  "I  know  it; 
the  jade  turned  all  eyelashes." 

"That  is  rather  exaggerated,  but  still " 

"But  still  I  have  described  it — to  a  hair.  Ha!  ha!" 

Talhoys   (gravely).     "Well,  yes." 

Mr.  Talboys,  I  am  bound  to  own,  was  accurate. 
During  the  last  day  or  two  Lucy  had  taken  a  turn;  she 
had  been  bewitching;  she  had  flattered  him  with  tact, 
but  deliciously;  had  consulted  him  as  to  which  of  his 
beautiful  dresses  she  should  wear  at  the  masqued  ball, 
and  when  pressed  to  have  a  sail  in  the  boat  he  was 
fitting  for  her,  she  ended  by  giving  a  demure  assent. 

Chorus  of  male  readers:  "OA  les  femmes,  les 
femmes!'' 

David  Dodd  had  by  nature  a  healthy  as  well  as  a 
high  mind.  But  the  fever  and  ague  of  an  absorbing 
passion  were  telling  on  it.     Like  many  a  great  heart 


S22  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

before  his  day,  his  heart  was  tossed  like  a  ship,  and  went 
up  to  heaven  and  down  again  to  despair,  as  a  girl's 
humour  shifted;  or  seemed  to  shift,  for  he  forgot  that 
there  is  such  a  thing  as  accident,  and  that  her  sex  are 
even  more  under  its  dominion  than  ours.  No,  what- 
ever she  did  must  be  spontaneous,  voluntary,  premed- 
itated even,  and  her  lightest  word  worth  weighing,  her 
lightest  action  worth  anxious  scrutiny  as  to  its  cause. 

Still  he  had  this  about  him  that  the  peevish  and 
puny  lover  has  not.  Her  bare  presence  was  joy  to  him. 
Even  when  she  was  surrounded  by  other  figures,  he 
saw  and  felt  but  the  one — the  rest  were  nothings.  But 
when  she  went  out  of  his  sight,  some  bright  illusion 
seemed  to  fade  into  cold  and  dark  reality.  Then  it 
fell  on  him  like  a  weighty,  icy  hammer,  that  in  three 
days  he  must  go  to  sea  for  two  years,  and  that  he  was  no 
nearer  her  heart  now  than  he  was  at  Font  Abbey;  was 
he  even  as  near  ? 

So,  the  next  afternoon  he  thrust  in  before  Talboys, 
and  put  Lucy  on  her  horse  by  brute  force,  and  gripped 
her  stout  little  boot,  which  she  had  slily  substituted 
for  a  shoe,  and  touched  her  glossy  habit,  and  felt  a 
thrill  of  bliss  unspeakable  at  his  momentary  contact 
with  her;  but  she  was  no  sooner  out  of  sight  than  a 
hollow  ache  seized  the  poor  fellow,  and  he  hung  his 
head  and  sighed. 

"I  say,  Capting,"  said  a  voice  in  his  ear.  He  looked 
up,  and  there  stood  Tom,  the  stable-boy,  with  both 
hands  in  his  pockets.  Tom  was  not  there  by  his  own 
proper  movement,  but  was  agent  of  Betsy,  the  under- 
housemaid. 

Female  servants  scan  the  male  guests  pretty  closely 
too,  without  seeming  to  do  it;  and  judge  them  upon 


LOVE  ME  LONG  323 

lamentably  broad  principles.  Youth,  health,  size, 
beauty,  and  good-temper.  Oh,  the  coarse-minded 
critics!  Hence,  it  befell  that  in  their  eyes,  especially 
after  the  fiddle  business,  David  was  a  king  compared 
with  his  rivals. 

**If  I  look  at  him  too  long,  I  shall  eat  him,"  said 
the  cook-maid. 

**He  is  a  darling,"  said  the  upper-housemaid. 

Betsy  aforesaid  often  opened  a  window  to  have  a 
sly  look  at  him;  and  on  one  of  these  occasions  she  in- 
spected him  from  an  upper  story  at  her  leisure.  His 
manner  drew  her  attention;  she  saw  him  mount  Lucy, 
and  eye  her  departing  form  sadly  and  wistfully.  Betsy 
glowered  and  glowered,  and  hit  the  nail  on  the  head, 
as  people  will  do  who  are  so  absurd  as  to  look  with  their 
own  eyes  and  draw  their  own  conclusions  instead  of 
other  people's.  After  this  she  took  an  opportunity, 
and  said  to  Tom,  with  a  satirical  air,  **How  are  you  off 
for  nags,  your  way.?" 

**Oh!  we  have  got  enough  for  our  corn,"  replied 
Tom,  on  the  defensive. 

**It  seems  you  can't  find  one  for  the  captain 
amongst  you." 

"Will  you  give  me  a  kiss  if  I  make  you  out  a  liar .?" 

"Sooner  than  break  my  arm.  Come,  you  might, 
Tom.  Now  is  it  reasonable  ?  him  never  to  get  a  ride 
with  her,  and  that  useless  lot  prancing  about  with  her 
all  day  long." 

"Why  don't  you  ride  with  'em,  Capting.?" 
"I  have  no  horse." 

"I  have  got  a  horse  for  you,  sir.     Master's." 
"That  would  be  taking  a  liberty." 


324  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Liberty,  sir,  no;  master  would  be  so  pleased  if  you 
would  but  ride  him.     He  told  me  so" 

"Then  saddle  him,  pray." 

"I  have  a-saddled  him.  You  had  better  come  in 
the  stable-yard,  Capting;  then  you  can  mount  and 
follow,  you  will  catch  them  before  they  reach  the 
Downs."     In  another  minute  David  was  mounted. 

"Do  you  ride  short  or  long^  Capting.?"  inquired 
Tom,  handling  the  stirrup-leather. 

David  wore  a  puzzled  look.  "I  ride  as  long  as  I  can 
stick  on."  And  he  trotted  out  of  the  stable-yard.  As 
Tom  had  predicted,  he  caught  the  party  just  as  they 
went  off  the  turnpike  on  to  the  grass.  His  heart  beat 
with  joy;  he  cantered  in  amongst  them;  his  horse  was 
fresh,  squeaked,  and  bucked  at  finding  himself  on  grass, 
and  in  company,  and  David  announced  his  arrival  by 
rolling  among  their  horses'  feet  with  the  reins  tight 
grasped  in  his  fist.  The  ladies  screamed  with  terror; 
David  got  up  laughing;  his  horse  had  hoped  to  canter 
away  without  him,  and  now  stood  facing  him  and 
pulling. 

"No!  ye  don't,"  said  David.  "I  held  on  to  the 
tiller-ropes  though  I  did  go  overboard."  Then  ensued 
a  battle  between  David  and  his  horse;  the  one  wanting 
to  mount,  the  other  anxious  to  be  unencumbered  with 
sailors.  It  was  settled  by  David  making  a  vault  and 
sitting  on  the  animal's  neck,  on  which  the  ladies 
screamed  again,  and  Lucy,  half  whimpering,  proposed 
to  go  home. 

"Don't  think  of  it,"  cried  David.  "I  won't  be  beat 
by  such  a  small  craft  as  this,  hallo!"  For  the  horse 
backing  into  Talboys,  that  gentleman  gave  him  a 
clandestine    cut,    and    he    bolted,    and   being   a   little 


I.OVE  ME  LONG  325 

hard-mouthed,  would  gallop  in  spite  of  the  tiller-ropes. 
On  came  the  other  nags  after  him,  all  misbehaving  more 
or  less,  so  fine  a  thing  is  example.  When  they  had  gal- 
loped half  a  mile,  the  ground  began  to  rise,  and  David's 
horse  relaxed  his  pace,  whereon  David  whipped  him 
industriously,  and  made  him  gallop  again  in  spite  of 
remonstrance. 

The  others  drew  the  rein,  and  left  him  to  gallop 
alone.  Accordingly  he  made  the  round  of  the  hill  and 
came  back,  his  horse  covered  with  lather  and  its 
tail  trembling.  *' There,"  said  he  to  Lucy,  with  an  air 
of  radiant  self-satisfaction,  '*he  clapped  on  sail  with- 
out orders  from  quarter-deck;  so  I  made  him  carry  it 
till  his  bows  were  under  water." 

"You  will  kill  my  uncle's  horse,"  was  the  reply,  in 
a  chilling  tone. 

"Heaven  forbid!" 

"Look  at  its  poor  flank  beating." 

David  hung  his  head,  like  a  school-girl  rebuked. 
"But  why  did  he  clap  on  sail  if  he  could  not  carry  it?'* 
inquired  he  ruefully  of  his  moni tress  .^ 

The  others  burst  out  laughing.  But  Lucy  remained 
grave  and  silent. 

David  rode  along  crestfallen. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  brought  her  pony  close  to  him,  and 
whispered,  "Never  mind  that  little  cross-patch,  she 
does  not  care  a  pin  about  the  horse;  you  interrupted  her 
flirtation,  that  is  all." 

This  piece  of  consolation  soothed  David  like  a  bunch 
of  stinging-nettles. 

Whilst  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  consoling  David  with 
thorns,  Kenealy  and  Talboys  were  quizzing  his  figure 
on  horseback. 


326  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

He  sat  bent  like  a  bow  and  visibly  sticking  on :  item 
he  had  no  straps,  and  his  trousers  tucked  up  half  way 
to  his  knee. 

Lucy's  attention  being  slily  drawn  to  these  phe- 
nomena by  David's  friend  Talboys,  she  smiled  politely, 
though  somewhat  constrainedly;  but  the  gentlemen 
found  it  a  source  of  infinite  amusement  during  the 
whole  ride,  which  by  the  way  was  not  a  very  long 
one,  for  Miss  Fountain  soon  expressed  a  wish  to 
turn  homeward.  David  felt  guilty,  he  scarce  knew 
why. 

The  promised  happiness  was  wormwood.  On  dis- 
mounting, she  went  to  the  lawn  to  tend  her  flowers. 
David  followed  her  and  said  bitterly,  '*I  am  sorry  I 
came  to  spoil  your  pleasure." 

Miss  Fountain  made  no  answer. 

**I  thought  I  might  have  one  ride  with  you,  when 
others  have  so  many." 

"Why,  of  course,  Mr.  Dodd.  If  you  like  to  expose 
yourself  to  ridicule  it  is  no  affair  of  mine."  The  lady's 
manner  was  a  happy  mixture  of  frigidity  and  crossness. 
David  stood  benumbed,  and  Lucy  having  emptied  her 
flower-pot,  glided  indoors  without  taking  any  farther 
notice  of  him. 

David  stood  rooted  to  the  spot.  Then  he  gave  a 
heavy  sigh,  and  went  and  leaned  against  one  of  the 
pillars  of  the  portico,  and  everything  seemed  to  swim 
before  his  eyes. 

Presently  he  heard  a  female  voice  inquire,  "Is  Miss 
Lucy  at  home.^"  He  looked,  and  there  was  a  tall, 
strapping  woman  in  conference  with  Henry.  She  had 
on  a  large  bonnet  with  flaunting  ribbons,  and  a  bushy 
cap  infuriated  by  red  flowers.     Henry's  eye  fell  upon 


LOVE  ME  LONG  327 

these  embellishments;  "Not  at  home,"  chanted  he 
sonorously. 

"Eh,  dear,"  said  the  woman  sadly,  "I  have  come  a 
long  way  to  see  her!" 

"Not  at  home,  ma'am,"  repeated  Henry,  like  a 
vocal  machine. 

"My  name  is  Wilson,  young  man,"  said  she  per- 
suasively, and  her  amazon's  voice  was  mellow  and 
womanly,  spite  of  her  coal-scuttle  full  of  field-poppies. 
"I  am  her  nurse,  and  I  have  not  see  her  this  five  years 
come  Martinmas,"  and  the  amazon  gave  a  gentle  sigh 
of    disappointment. 

"Not  at  home,  ma'am!"  rang  th'  inexorable  Plush. 

But  David's  good  heart  took  the  woman's  part. 
"She  is  at  home,  now,"  said  he,  coming  forward.  "I 
saw  her  go  into  the  house  scarce  a  minute  ago." 

"Oh,  thank  you,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Wilson.  But  Mr, 
Plush's  face  was  instantly  puckered  all  over  with  signals, 
which  David  not  comprehending,  he  said,  "Can  I  say 
a  word  with  you,  sir.?"  and  drawing  him  on  one  side, 
objected  in  an  injured  and  piteous  tone.  "We  are  not 
at  home  to  such  gallimaufry  as  that;  it  is  as  much  as 
my  place  is  worth  to  denounce  that  there  bonnet  to  our 
ladies." 

"Bonnet  be  d d,"  roared  David  aloud.   "It  is 

her  old  nurse.  Come,  heave  ahead,"  and  he  pointed 
up  the  stairs. 

"Anything  to  oblige  you.  Captain,"  said  Henry, 
and  sauntered  into  the  drawing-room.  "Mrs.  Wilson, 
ma'am,  for  Miss  Fountain." 

"Very  well;  my  niece  will  be  here  directly." 

Lucy  had  just  gone  to  her  own  room  for  some  work- 
ing materials. 


328  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"You  had  better  come  to  an  anchor  on  this  seat, 
Mrs.  Wilson,"  said  David. 

"Thank  ye  kindly,  young  gentleman,"  said  Mrs. 
Wilson;  and  she  settled  her  stately  figure  on  the  seat. 
"I  have  walked  a  many  miles  to-day  along  of  our  horse 
being  lame,  and  I  am  a  little  tired;  you  are  one  of  the 
family,  I  do  suppose." 

"No,  I  am  only  a  visitor." 

"Ain't  ye  now.^  well,  thank  ye  kindly  all  the  same. 
I  have  seen  a  worse  face  than  yours,  I  can  tell  you," 
added  she,  for  in  the  midst  of  it  all  she  had  found  time 
to  read  countenances  Triore  mulierum. 

"And  I  have  seen  a  good  many  hundred  worse  than 
yours,  Mrs.  Wilson." 

Mrs.  Wilson  laughed.  "Twenty  years  ago  if  you 
had  said  so  I  might  have  believed  you,  or  even  ten; 
but,  bless  you,  I  am  an  old  woman  now,  and  can  say 
what  I  choose  to  the  men.  Forty-two  next  Candlemas." 

In  the  country  they  call  themselves  old  at  forty-two, 
because  they  feel  young.  In  town  they  call  themselves 
young  at  forty-two,  because  they  feel  old. 

David  saw  that  he  had  fallen  in  with  a  gossip ;  and 
being  in  no  humour  for  vague  chat,  he  left  Mrs.  Wilson 
to  herself,  with  an  assurance  that  Miss  Fountain  would 
be  down  to  her  directly. 

In  leaving  her  he  went  into  worse  company,  his  own 
thoughts;  they  were  inexpressibly  sad  and  bitter.  "She 
hates  me,  then,"  said  he.  "Everybody  is  welcome  to 
her  at  all  hours  except  me.  That  lady  said  it  was 
because  I  interrupted  her  flirtation.  Ah,  well!  I 
shan't  interrupt  her  flirtation  much  longer.  I  shan't 
be  in  her  way  or  anybody's  long.  A  few  short  hours, 
and  this  bitter  day  will  be  forgotten,  and  nothing  left 


LOVE  ME  LONG  329 

me  but  the  memory  of  the  kindness  she  had  for  me  once, 
or  seemed  to  have,  and  the  angel  face  I  must  carry  in 
my  heart  wherever  I  go,  by  land  or  sea.  The  sea  ?  ah, 
would  to  God  I  was  upon  it  this  minute.  I  'd  rather  be 
at  sea  than  ashore  in  the  dirtiest  night  that  ever  blew." 

He  had  been  walking  to  and  fro  a  good  half-hour, 
deeply  dejected  and  turning  bitter,  when  looking  in 
accidentally  at  the  hall  door,  he  caught  sight  of  Mrs. 
Wilson  sitting  all  alone  where  he  had  left  her.  "TVTiy, 
what  on  earth  is  the  meaning  of  that.^"  thought  he, 
and  he  went  into  the  hall  and  asked  Mrs.  Wilson  how  she 
came  to  be  there  all  alone. 

"That  is  what  I  have  been  asking  myself  a  while 
past,"  was  the  dry  reply. 

''Have  you  not  seen  her.?" 

"No,  sir,  I  have  not  seen  her,  and  to  my  mind  it  is 
doubtful  whether  I  am  to  see  her." 

"But  I  say  you  shall  see  her." 

"No!  no!  don't  put  yourself  out,  sir,"  said  the 
woman  carelessly,  **I  dare  say  I  shall  have  better  luck 
next  time,  if  I  should  ever  come  to  this  house  again, 
which  it  is  not  very  likely."  She  added  gently,  "Young 
folk  are  thoughtless:  we  must  not  judge  them  too 
hardly." 

"  Thoughtless  they  may  be,  but  they  have  no  business 
to  be  heartless.  I  have  a  great  mind  to  go  up  and  fetch 
her  down." 

"  Don't  ye  trouble,  sir.  It  is  not  worth  while  putting 
you  about  for  an  old  woman  like  me."  Then  suddenly 
dropping  the  mask  of  nonchalance,  which  women  of 
this  class  often  put  on  to  hide  their  sensibility,  she  said 
very,  very  gravely,  and  with  a  sad  dignity  that  one 
would  not  have  expected  from  her  gossip  and  her  finery. 


330  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

'*I  begin  to  fear,  sir,  that  the  child  I  have  suckled 
does  n't  care  to  know  me  now  she  is  a  woman  grown." 

David  dashed  up  the  stairs  with  a  red  streak  on  his 
brow.  He  burst  into  the  drawing-room,  and  there 
sat  Mrs.  Bazalgette  overlooking,  and  Lucy  working 
with  a  face  of  beautiful  calm.  She  looked  just  then  so 
very  like  a  pure,  tranquil  Madonna  making  an  altar- 
cloth,  or  something,  that  David's  intention  to  give  her 
a  good  scolding  was  withered  in  the  bud,  and  he  gazed 
at  her  surprised  and  irresolute,  and  said  not  a  word. 

"Anything  the  matter .?"  inquired  Mrs.  Bazalgette, 
attracted  by  the  brusqueness  of  his  entry. 

"Yes,  there  is,"  said  David  sternly.  Lucy  looked  up. 

"Miss  Fountain's  old  nurse  has  been  sitting  in  the 
hall  more  than  half-an-hour,  and  nobody  has  had  the 
politeness  to  go  near  her." 

"Oh,  is  that  all.?  Well,  don't  look  daggers  at  me. 
There  is  Lucy,  give  her  a  lesson  in  good  breeding,  Mr. 
Dodd."  This  was  said  a  little  satirically,  and  rather 
nettled  David. 

"Perhaps  it  does  not  become  me  to  set  up  for  a 
teacher  of  that.  I  know  my  own  deficiencies  as  well  as 
anybody  in  this  house  knows  them;  but  this  I  know, 
that  if  an  old  friend  walked  eight  miles  to  see  me,  it 
would  not  be  good  breeding  in  me  to  refuse  to  walk 
eight  yards  to  see  her.  And,  another  thing,  every- 
body's time  is  worth  something.  If  I  did  not  mean  to 
see  her  I  would  have  that  much  consideration  to  send 
down  and  tell  her  so;  and  not  keep  the  woman  wasting 
her  time  as  well  as  her  trouble,  and  vexing  her  heart 
into  the  bargain." 

"Where  is  she,  Mr.  Dodd?"  asked  Lucy  quickly. 

"Where  is  she.?"  cried  David,  getting  louder  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  331 

louder.  "Why,  she  is  cooling  her  heels  in  the  hall  this 
half -hour  and  more.  They  had  n't  the  manners  to 
show  her  into  a  room." 

"I  will  go  to  her,  Mr.  Dodd,"  said  Lucy,  turning 
a  little  pale.  ''Don't  be  angry,  I  will  go  directly;" 
and  having  said  this,  with  an  abject  slavishness  that 
formed  a  miraculous  contrast  with  her  late  crossness 
and  imperious  chilliness,  she  put  down  her  work  hastily 
and  went  out;  only  at  the  door  she  curved  her  throat, 
and  cast  back,  Parthian  like,  a  glance  of  timid  reproach, 
as  much  as  to  say,  "Need  you  have  been  so  very  harsh 
with  a  creature  so  obedient  as  this  is.?" 

That  deprecating  glance  did  Mr.  Dodd's  business. 
It  shot  him  with  remorse,  and  made  him  feel  a  brute. 

"Ha!  ha!  That  is  the  way  to  speak  to  her,  Mr. 
Dodd;  the  other  gentlemen  spoil  her." 

"It  was  very  unbecoming  of  me  to  speak  to  her 
harshly   like   that." 

"Pooh!  nonsense;  these  girls  like  to  be  ordered 
about  —  it  saves  them  the  trouble  of  thinking  for  them- 
selves ;  but  what  is  to  become  of  me  ?  you  have  sent  off 
my  workwoman." 

"I  will  do  her  work  for  her." 

"What,  can  you  sew.?" 

"Where  is  the  sailor  that  can't  sew?" 

"Delightful!  Then  please  to  sew  these  two  thick 
ends  together.     Here  is  a  large  needle." 

David  whipped  out  of  his  pocket  a  round  piece  of 
leather  with  strings  attached,  and  fastened  it  in  the 
hollow  of  his  hand. 

"What  is  that.?" 

"It  is  a  sailor's  thimble."  He  took  the  work,  held 
it  neatly,  and  shoved  the  needle  from  behind  through 


332  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  thick  material.  He  worked  slowly  and  uncouthly, 
but  with  the  precision  that  was  a  part  of  his  character, 
and  made  exact  and  strong  stitches.  His  task-mistress 
looked  on,  and  under  the  pretence  of  minute  inspection 
brought  a  face  that  was  still  arch  and  pretty,  unneces- 
sarily close  to  the  marine  milliner;  in  which  attitude 
they  were  surprised  by  Mr.  Bazalgette,  who,  having 
come  in  through  the  open  folding-doors,  stood  looking 
mighty  sardonic  at  them  both  before  they  were  even 
aware  he  was  in  the  room. 

Omphale  coloured  faintly;  but  Hercules  gave  a 
cool  nod  to  the  new-comer,  and  stitched  on  with  char- 
acteristic zeal  and  strict  attention  to  the  matter  in 
hand. 

At  this  Bazalgette  uttered  a  sort  of  chuckle,  at 
which  Mrs.  Bazalgette  turned  red.  David  stitched 
on  for  the  bare  life. 

"I  came  to  offer  to  invite  you  to  my  study,  but " 

"I  can't  come  just  now,"  said  David  bluntly,  "I 
am  doing  a  lady's  work  for  her." 

"So  I  see,"  retorted  Bazalgette  drily. 

"We  all  dine  with  the  Hunts  but  you  and  Mr.  Dodd.' 
said  Mrs.  Bazalgette.  "So  you  will  be  en  tete-a-tete 
all  the  evening." 

"All  the  better  for  us  both."  And  with  this  in- 
gratiating remark  Mr.  Bazalgette  retired  whistling. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  heaved  a  gentle  sigh.  "Pity  me, 
my  friend,"  said  she  softly. 

"What  is  the  matter.?"  inquired  David. 
"Mr.  Bazalgette  is  so  harsh   to  me — ah! — to  me 
who  long  so  for  kindness  and  gentleness  —  feel  I  could 
give  my  very  soul  in  exchange  for  them." 

The  bait  did  not  take. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  333 

"It  is  only  his  manner,"  said  David  good-naturedly. 
"His  heart  is  all  right.  I  never  met  a  better;  what 
sort  of  a  knot  is  that  you  are  tying?  why,  that  is  a 
granny's  knot!"  and  he  looked  morose,  at  which  she 
looked  amazed;  so  he  softened,  and  explained  to  her 
with  benevolence  the  rationale  of  a  knot.  "A  knot  is 
a  fastening  intended  to  be  undone  again  by  fingers,  and 
not  to  come  undone  without  them.  Accordingly  a 
knot  is  no  knot  at  all  if  it  jams,  or  if  it  slips.  A  granny's 
knot  does  both.  When  you  want  to  untie  it  you  must 
pick  at  it  like  taking  a  nail  out  of  a  board,  and  for  all 
that,  sooner  or  later  it  always  comes  undone  of  itself; 
now  you  look  here,"  and  he  took  a  piece  of  string  out 
of  his  pocket  and  tied  her  a  sailor's  knot,  bidding  her 
observe  that  she  could  untie  it  at  once,  but  it  could 
never  come  untied  of  itself.  He  showed  her  with  this 
piece  of  string  half-a-dozen  such  knots,  none  of  which 
could  either  jam  or  slip. 

*'Tie  me  a  lover's  knot,"  suggested  the  lady  in  a 
whisper. 

**Ay!  ay!"  and  he  tied  her  a  lover's  knot  as  imper- 
turbably  as  he  had  the  reef-knot,  bowling-knot,  fisher- 
man's bend,  &c. 

"This  is  very  interesting,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
ironically;  she  thought  David  might  employ  a  tete-a- 
tete  with  a  flirt  better  than  this.  "What  a  time  Lucy 
is  gone!" 

"All  the  better." 

"Why.?"  and  she  looked  down  in  mock  confusion. 

"Because  poor  Mrs.  Wilson  will  be  glad." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  piqued  at  this  unexpected 
answer.  "You  seem  quite  captivated  with  this  Mrs. 
Wilson;  it  was  for   her  sake   you  took  Lucy  to  task. 


334  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Apropos,  you  need  not  have  scolded  her,  for  she  did 
not  know  the  woman  was  in  the  house." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

*'I  mean  Lucy  was  not  in  the  room  when  Mrs. 
Wilson  was  announced.  /  was,  but  I  did  not  tell  her; 
the  all-important  circumstance  had  escaped  my  mem- 
ory.    Where  are  you  running  to  now .?" 

*' Where  .^  why,  to  ask  her  pardon,  to  be  sure." 

Mrs,  B.  [Brute!] 

David  ran  down  the  stairs  to  look  for  Lucy;  but 
he  found  somebody  else  instead,  his  sister  Eve,  whom 
the  servant  had  that  moment  admitted  into  the  hall. 
It  was  "Oh,  Eve!"  and  "Oh,  David!"  directly,  and 
an  affectionate  embrace. 

"You  got  my  letter,   David." 

"No!" 

"Well,  then,  you  will  before  long.  I  wrote  to  tell 
you  to  look  out  for  me;  I  had  better  have  brought  the 
letter  in  my  pocket.  I  did  n't  know  I  was  coming 
till  just  an  hour  before  I  started.  Mother  insisted  on 
my  going  to  see  the  last  of  you.     Cousin  Mary  had 

invited  me  to so  I  shall  see  you  off,  Davy  dear, 

after  all.  I  thought  I  'd  just  pop  in  and  let  you  know 
I  was  in  the  neighbourhood.  Mary  and  her  husband 
are  outside  the  gate  in  their  four-wheel.  I  would  not 
let  them  drive  in,  because  I  want  to  hear  your  story, 
and  they  would  have  bothered  us." 

"Eve,  dear,  I  have  no  good  news  for  you.  Your 
words  have  come  true*  I  have  been  perplexed,  up 
and  down,  hot  and  cold,  till  I  feel  sometimes  like 
going  mad.  Eve,  I  cannot  fathom  her.  She  is  deeper 
than  the  ocean,  and  more  changeable.  What  am 
I    saying:    the   sea   and    the    wind;    they    are    to    be 


LOVE  ME  LONG  335 

read;  they  have  their  signs  and  their  warnings;  but 
she " 

"There!  there!  that  is  the  old  song.  I  tell  you  it  is 
only  a  girl,  a  creature  as  shallow  as  a  puddle,  and  as 
easy  to  fathom  as  you  call  it;  only  men  are  so  stupid, 
especially  boys.  Now,  just  you  tell  me  all  she  has  said, 
all  she  has  done,  and  all  she  has  looked,  and  I  will  turn 
her  inside  out  like  a  glove  in  a  minute." 

Cheered  by  this  audacious  pledge,  David  pumped 
upon  Eve  all  that  has  trickled  on  my  readers,  and  some 
minor  details  besides,  and  repeated  Lucy's  every  word, 
sweet  or  bitter,  and  recalled  her  lightest  action  — 
Meminerunt  omnia  amantes  —  and  every  now  and  then 
he  looked  sadly  into  Eve's  keen  little  face  for  his  doom. 

She  heard  him  in  silence  until  the  last  fatal  incident, 
Lucy's  severity  on  the  lawn.  Then  she  put  in  a  ques- 
tion, "Were  those  her  exact  words .?" 

"  Do  I  ever  forget  a  syllable  she  says  to  me  ?  " 

"Don't  be  angry.  I  forgot  what  a  ninny  she  has 
made  of  you.  Well,  David,  it  is  all  as  plain  as  my 
hand.     The  girl  likes  you,  that  is  all." 

"The  girl  likes  me.^  what  do  you  mean.?  How 
can  you  say  that  ?  what  sign  of  liking  is  there .?" 

"There  are  two.  She  avoids  you,  and  she  has  been 
rude  to  you." 

"And  those  are  signs  of  liking,  are  they.?"  said 
David  bitterly. 

"WTiy,  of  course  they  are,  stupid.  Tell  me  now: 
does  she  shun  this  Captain  Keely.?" 

"Kenealy.     No." 

"Does  she  shun  Mr.  Harvey.?" 

"Hardie.     No." 

"Does  she  shun  Mr.  Talboys?" 


336  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Oh,  Eve,  you  break  my  heart;  no!  no!  She  shuns 
no  one  but  poor  David." 

**Now,  think  a  little.  Here  are  three  on  one  sort  of 
footing,  and  one  on  a  different  footing,  which  is  likeliest 
to  be  the  man;  the  one  or  the  three  ?  You  have  gained 
a  point  since  we  were  all  together.  She  distinguishes 
you." 

"But  what  a  way  to  distinguish  me?  it  looks  more 
like  hatred  than  love  or  liking  either." 

"Not  to  my  eye.  Why  should  she  shun  you  ?  You 
are  handsome,  you  are  good-tempered,  and  good  com- 
pany. Why  should  she  be  shy  of  you  ?  She  is  afraid  of 
you,  that  is  why;  and  why  is  she  afraid  of  you  ?  because 
she  is  afraid  of  her  own  heart;  that  is  how  I  read  her. 
Then,  as  for  her  snubbing  you,  if  her  character  was 
like  mine,  that  ought  to  go  for  nothing,  for  I  snub  all 
the  world;  but  this  is  a  little  queen  for  politeness.  I 
can't  think  she  would  go  so  far  out  of  her  way  as  to 
affront  anybody  —  unless  she  had  an  uncommon  re- 
spect for  him." 

"  Listen  to  that,  now !     I  am  on  my  beam  ends." 

"Now,  think  a  minute,  David,"  said  Eve,  calmly 
ignoring  his  late  observation,  "did  you  ever  know  her 
snub  anybody .?" 

"Never!     Did  you  .^" 

"No,  and  she  never  would  unless  she  took  an  un- 
common interest  in  the  person.  When  a  girl  likes  a 
man  she  thinks  she  has  a  right  to  ill-use  him  a  little  bit ; 
he  has  got  her  affection  to  set  against  a  scratch  or  two. 
The  others  have  not.  So  she  has  not  the  same  right  to 
scratch  them.  La!  listen  to  me  teaching  him  A,  B,  C! 
Why,  David,  you  know  nothing;  it 's  scandalous." 

Eve's   confidence   communicated   itself   at   last   to 


LOVE  ME  LONG  337 

David;  but  when  he  asked  her  whether  she  thought 
Lucy  would  consent  to  be  his  wife,  her  countenance  fell 
in  her  turn.  *'That  is  a  very  different  thing.  I  am 
pretty  sure  she  likes  you ;  how  could  she  help  it  ?  but  I 
doubt  she  will  never  go  to  the  altar  with  you.  Don't 
be  angry  with  me,  Davy,  dear.  You  are  in  love  with 
her;  and  to  you  she  is  an  angel.  But  I  am  of  her  own 
sex,  and  see  her  as  she  is;  no  matter  who  she  likes,  she 
will  never  be  content  to  make  a  bad  match  as  they  call 
it.  She  told  me  so  once,  with  her  own  lips.  But  she 
had  no  need  to  tell  me;  worldliness  is  written  on  her. 
David!  David!  you  don't  know  these  great  houses, 
nor  the  fair-spoken  creatures  that  live  in  them,  with 
tongues  tuned  to  sentiment,  and  mild  eyes  fixed  on  the 
main  chance;  their  drawing-rooms  are  carpeted  market 
places ;  you  may  see  the  stones  bulge  through  the  flowery 
pattern;  there  the  ladies  sell  their  faces,  the  gentlemen 
their  titles  and  their  money;  and  much  I  fear  Miss 
Fountain's  hand  will  go  like  the  rest  —  to  the  highest 
bidder." 

"If  I  thought  so,  my  love,  deep  as  it  is,  would  turn 
to  contempt;  I  would  tear  her  out  of  my  heart  though 
I  tore  my  heart  out  of  my  body."  He  added,  "I  will 
know  what  she  is  before  many  hours." 

"Do!  David!  Take  her  off  her  guard,  and  make 
hot  love  to  her,  that  is  your  best  chance.  It  is  a  pity 
you  are  so  much  in  love  with  her;  you  might  win  her 
by  a  surprise  if  you  only  liked  her  in  moderation." 

"How  so,  dear  Eve?" 

"The  battle  would  be  more  even.  Your  adoring 
her  gives  her  the  upper  hand  of  you.  She  is  sure  to  say 
'no'  at  first,  and  then  I  am  afraid  you  will  leave  off, 
instead  of  going  on  hotter  and  hotter.     The  very  look 


338  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

she  will  put  on  to  check  you  will  check  you,  you  are  so 
green.  What  a  pity  I  can't  take  your  place  for  half-an- 
hour.  I  would  have  her  against  her  will.  I  would 
take  her  by  storm.  If  she  said  *no'  twenty  times,  she 
should  say  'yes'  the  twenty-first;  but  you  are  afraid  of 
her.  Fancy  being  afraid  of  a  woman.  Come,  David, 
you  must  not  shilly-shally,  but  attack  her  like  a  man; 
and  if  she  is  such  a  fool  she  can't  see  your  merit,  forgive 
her  like  a  man,  and  forget  her  like  a  man.  Come, 
promise  me  you  will." 

'*I  promise  you  this,"  said  David,  *'that  if  I  lose  her 
it  shall  not  be  for  want  of  trying  to  win  her;  and  if  she 
refuses  me  because  I  am  not  her  fancy,  I  shall  die  a 
bachelor  for  her  sake."  Eve  sighed.  *'But  if  she  is 
the  mercenary  thing  you  take  her  for,  if  she  owns  to 
liking  me,  but  prefers  money  to  love,  then,  from  that 
moment  she  is  no  more  to  me  than  a  picture  or  a  statue, 
or  any  other  lovely  thing  that  has  no  soul." 

With  these  determined  words  he  gave  his  sister  his 
arm,  and  walked  with  her  through  the  grounds  to  the 
road  where  her  cousin  was  waiting  for  her. 

Lucy  found  Mrs.  Wilson  in  the  hall.  *'Come  into 
the  library,  Mrs.  Wilson,"  said  she.  "I  have  only  just 
heard  you  were  here.  Won't  you  sit  down  ?  Are  you 
not  well,  Mrs.  Wilson  ?  You  tremble.  You  are  fa- 
tigued, I  fear.  Pray  compose  yourself.  May  I  ring  for 
a  glass  of  wine  for  you .?" 

'*No!  no!  Miss  Lucy,"  said  the  woman,  smiling; 
**  it  is  only  along  of  you  coming  to  me  so  sudden,  and  you 
so  grown.  Eh,  sure,  can  this  fine  young  lady  be  the 
little  girl  I  held  in  my  lap  but  t'other  day,  as  it  seems  .^'* 

There  was  an  agitation   and  ardour  about  Mrs. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  339 

Wilson  that,  coupled  with  the  flaming  bonnet,  made 
Miss  Fountain  uneasy.  She  thought  Mrs.  Wilson  must 
be  a  little  cracked,  or  at  least  flighty. 

"Pray  compose  yourself,  madam,"  said  she  sooth- 
ingly, but  with  that  dignity  nobody  could  assume  more 
readily  than  she  could.  "I  dare  say  I  am  much  grown 
since  I  last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you;  but  I  have 
not  outgrown  my  memory,  and  am  happy  to  receive  you, 
or  any  of  our  old  servants  that  knew  my  dear  mother." 

'*Then  I  must  not  look  for  a  welcome,"  said  Mrs. 
Wilson  with  feminine  logic,  **for  I  was  never  your 
servant,  nor  your  mamma's."  Lucy  opened  her  eyes, 
and  her  face  sought  an  explanation. 

*'I  never  took  any  money  for  what  I  gave  you;  so 
how  could  I  be  a  servant.^  To  see  me  a  dangling  of 
my  heels  in  your  hall  so  long,  one  would  say  I  was  a 
servant;  but  I  am  not  a  servant,  nor  like  to  be,  please 
God,  unless  I  should  have  the  ill  luck  to  bury  my  two 
boys  as  I  have  their  father.  So,  perhaps,  the  best  thing 
I  can  do,  miss,  is  to  drop  you  my  curtsey,  and  walk 
back  as  I  came."  The  amazon's  manner  was  singularly 
independent  and  calm,  but  the  tell-tale  tears  were  in 
her  large  grey  honest  eyes  before  she  ended. 

Lucy's  natural  penetration  and  habit  of  attending  to 
faces,  rather  than  words  came  to  her  aid.  "Wait  a 
minute,  Mrs.  Wilson,"  said  she,  "I  think  there  is  some 
misunderstanding  here.  Perhaps  the  fault  is  mine. 
And  yet  I  remember  more  than  one  nursery-maid  that 
was  kind  enough  to  me;  but  I  have  heard  nothing  of 
them  since." 

"Their  blood  is  not  in  your  veins  as  mine  is,  unless 
the  doctors  have  lanced  it  out." 

"I  never  was  bled  in  my  life,  if  you  mean  that. 


340  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

madam.  But  I  must  ask  you  to  explain  how  I  can 
possibly  have  the  —  the  advantage  of  possessing  your 
blood  in  my  veins." 

Mrs.  Wilson  eyed  her  keenly.  "Perhaps  I  had 
better  tell  you  the  story  from  first  to  last,  young  lady," 
said  she  quietly. 

'*If  you  please,"  said  the  courtier,  mastering  a  sigh; 
for  in  Mrs.  Wilson  there  was  much  that  promised 
fluency. 

"Well,  miss,  when  you  came  into  the  world  your 
mamma  could  not  nurse  you.  I  do  notice  the  gentry 
that  eat  the  fat  of  the  land  are  none  the  better  for  it; 
for  a  poor  woman  can  do  a  mother's  part  by  her  child ; 
but  high-born  and  high-fed  folk  can't  always.  So  you 
had  to  be  brought  up  by  hand,  miss,  and  it  did  not  agree 
with  you,  and  that  is  no  great  wonder,  seeing  it  is  against 
nature.  Well,  my  little  girl,  that  was  born  just  two 
days  after  you,  died  in  my  arms  of  convulsion  fits,  when 
she  was  just  a  month  old.  She  had  only  just  been 
buried,  and  me  in  bitter  grief,  when  does  n't  the  doctor 
call  and  ask  me  as  a  great  favour,  would  I  nurse  Mrs. 
Fountain's  child,  that  was  pining  for  want  of  its  natural 
food.  I  bade  him  get  out  of  my  sight.  I  felt  as  if  no 
woman  had  a  right  to  have  a  child  living  when  my  little 
darling  was  gone.  But  my  husband,  a  just  man  as 
ever  was,  said, '  Take  a  thought,  Mary,  the  child  is  really 
pining  by  all  accounts.'  Well,  I  would  not  listen  to 
him.  But  next  Sunday,  after  afternoon  church,  my 
mother,  that  had  not  said  a  word  till  then,  comes  to  me 
and  puts  her  hand  on  my  shoulder  with  a  quiet  way 
she  had:  *  Mary,'  says  she,  '  I  am  older  than  you,  and 
have  known  more.'  She  had  buried  six  of  us,  poor 
thing.     Says  she,  scarce  above  a  whisper:  *  Suckle  that 


LOVE  ME  LONG  341 

failing  child.  It  will  be  the  better  for  her,  and  the  better 
for  you,  Mary,  my  girl.'  Well,  miss,  my  mother  was  a 
woman  that  did  n't  interfere  every  minute,  and  seldom 
gave  her  reasons;  but  if  you  scorned  her  advice,  you 
mostly  found  them  out  to  your  cost.  And  then  she  was 
my  mother;  and  in  those  days  mothers  were  more 
thought  of,  leastways  by  us  that  were  women  and  had 
suffered  for  our  children,  and  so  learned  to  prize  the 
woman  that  had  suffered  for  us.     '  Well,  then,'  I  said, 

*  if  you  say  so,  mother,  I  suppose  I  did  n't  ought  to 
gainsay  you,  on  the  Lord  His  day.'  For  you  see  my 
mother  was  one  that  chose  her  time  for  speaking  — 
eh !  but  she  was  wise.  *  Mother,'  says  I,  *  to  oblige  you, 
so  be  it ; '  and  with  that  I  fell  to  crying  sore  on  my 
mother's  neck,  and  she  was  n't  long  behind  me,  you  may 
be  sure.  Whiles  we  sat  a  crying  in  one  another's  arms, 
in  comes  John,  and  goes  to  speak  a  word  of  comfort. 

*  It  is  not  that,'  says  my  mother;  'she  have  given  her 
consent  to  nurse  Mrs.  Fountain's  little  girl.'  *It  is 
much  to  her  credit,'  says  he:  says  he,  'I  will  take  her 
up  to  the  house  myself.'  *  What  for,'  says  I;  'them 
that  grants  the  favour  has  no  call  to  run  after  them  that 
asks  it.'  You  see,  Miss  Lucy,  that  was  my  ignorance; 
we  were  small  farmers,  too  independent  to  be  fawning, 
and  not  high  enough  to  weed  ourselves  of  uppishness. 
Your  mamma,  she  was  a  real  lady;  so  she  had  no  need 
to  trouble  about  her  dignity,  she  thought  only  of  her 
child,  and  she  did  n't  send  the  child,  but  she  came  with 
it  herself.  Well,  she  came  into  our  kitchen  and  made 
her  obeisance,  and  we  to  her,  and  mother  dusted  her  a 
seat.  She  was  pale-like,  and  a  mother's  care  was  in 
her  face,  and  that  went  to  my  heart.  '  This  is  very, 
very  kind  of  you,  Mrs.  Wilson,'  said  she.     Those  were 


342  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

her  words.  *  Mayhap  it  is,'  says  I;  and  my  heart  felt 
like  lead.  Mother  made  a  sign  to  your  mamma,  that 
she  should  not  hurry  me.  I  saw  the  signal  for  as  quick 
as  she  was;  but  I  never  let  on  I  saw  it.  At  last  I 
plucked  up  a  bit  of  courage,  and  I  said,  *  Let  me  see  it.' 
So  mother  took  you  from  the  girl  that  held  you  all 
wrapped  up,  and  mother  put  you  on  my  knees;  and  I 
took  a  good  look  at  you.  You  had  the  sweetest  little 
face  that  ever  came  into  the  world,  but  all  peaked  and 
pining  for  want  of  nature.  With  you  being  on  my 
knees,  my  bosom  began  to  yearn  over  you,  it  did.  '  The 
child  is  starved,'  said  I;  *  that  is  all  its  grief;  and,'  says 
I,  '  you  did  right  to  bring  it  here.'  Your  mother  clasps 
her  hands, '  Oh !  Mrs.  Wilson,'  says  she,  '  God  grant  it 
is  not  too  late.'  So  then  I  smiled  back  to  her,  and  I 
said,  *  Don't  you  fret;  in  a  fortnight  you  shan't  know 
her.'  You  see  I  was  beginning  to  feel  proud  of  what  I 
knew  I  could  do  for  you.  I  was  a  healthy  young  wo- 
man, and  could  have  nursed  two  children  as  easy  as 
some  can  one.  To  make  a  long  story  short,  I  gave  you 
the  breast  then  and  there;  and  you  did  n't  leave  us  long 
in  doubt  whether  cow's  milk  or  mother's  milk  is  God's 
will  for  sucklings.  Well,  your  mamma  put  her  hands 
before  her  face,  and  I  saw  the  tears  force  their  way 
between  her  fingers.  So  when  she  was  gone,  I  said  to 
my  mother,  *  What  was  that  for.?'  'I  shan't  tell  you,' 
says  she.  'Do,  mother,'  says  I.  So  she  said,  T  wonder 
at  your  having  to  ask;  can't  you  see  it  was  jealousy- 
like ?  Do  you  think  she  has  not  her  burden  to  bear  in 
this  world  as  well  as  you  ?  How  would  you  like  to  see 
another  woman  do  a  mother's  part  for  a  child  of  yours, 
and  you  sit  looking  on  like  a  toy-mother  ? '  Eh !  Miss 
Lucy,  but  I  was  vexed  for  her  at  that,  and  my  heart 


LOVE  ME  LONG      '  343 

softened ;  and  I  used  to  take  you  up  to  the  great  house, 
and  spend  nearly  the  whole  day  there,  not  to  rob  her  of 
her  child  more  than  need  be." 

"Oh,  Mrs.  Wilson!  oh,  you  kind,  noble-hearted 
creature,  surely  Heaven  will  reward  you." 

**  That  is  past  praying  for,  my  dear.  Heaven  was  n't 
going  to  be  long  in  debt  to  a  farmer's  wife,  you  may  be 
sure;  not  a  day,  not  an  hour.  I  had  hardly  laid  you 
to  my  breast  when  you  seemed  to  grow  to  my  heart. 
My  milk  had  been  tormenting  me  for  one  thing.  My 
good  mother  had  thought  of  that,  I  '11  go  bail ;  and  of 
course  you  relieved  me.  But  above  all,  you  numbed 
the  wound  in  my  heart,  and  healed  it  by  degrees.  A 
part  of  my  love  that  lay  in  the  churchyard  seemed  to 
come  back  like,  and  settle  on  the  little  helpless  darling 
that  milked  me.  At  whiles  I  forgot  you  were  not  my 
own;  and  even  when  I  remembered  it,  it  was  —  I  don't 
know  —  somehow  —  as  if  it  was  n't  so.  I  knew  in  my 
head  you  were  none  of  mine,  but,  what  of  that,  I  did  n't 
feel  it  here.  Well,  miss,  I  nursed  you  a  year  and  two 
months,  and  a  finer  little  girl  never  was  seen,  and  such 
a  weight !  And  of  course  I  was  proud  of  you ;  and  often 
your  dear  mother  tried  to  persuade  me  to  take  a  twenty 
pound  note,  or  ten;  but  I  never  would.  I  could  not 
sell  my  milk  to  a  queen.  I  'd  refuse  it,  or  I  'd  make  a 
gift  of  it,  and  the  love  that  goes  with  it,  which  it  is  be- 
yond price.  I  did  n't  say  so  to  her  in  so  many  words, 
but  I  used  to  tell  her,  T  was  as  much  in  her  little  girl's 
debt  as  she  was  in  mine,'  and  so  I  was.  But,  as  for  a 
silk  gown,  and  shawl,  and  the  like,  I  did  n't  say  'no'  to 
them;  who  ever  does?" 

"Nurse!" 

"My  lamb!" 


344  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Can  you  ever  forgive  me  for  confounding  you  with 
a  servant  ?  I  am  so  inexperienced.  I  knew  nothing  of 
all  this." 

"Oh,  Miss  Lucy, '  let  that  flea  stick  in  the  wall/  as 
the  saying  is." 

"But,  dear  Mrs.  Wilson  —  only  think  that  your 
affection  for  me  should  have  lasted  all  these  years.  You 
speak  as  if  such  tenderness  was  common.  I  fear  you 
are  mistaken  there;  most  nurses  go  away  and  think  no 
more  of  those  to  whom  they  have  been  as  mothers  in 
infancy." 

"How  do  you  know  that,  Miss  Lucy.?  Who  can 
tell  what  passes  inside  those  poor  women  that  are  ground 
down  into  slaves,  and  never  dare  show  their  real  hearts 
to  a  living  creature.?  Certainly,  hirelings  will  be  hire- 
lings, and  a  poor  creature  that  is  forced  to  sell  her  breast, 
and  is  bundled  off  as  soon  as  she  has  served  the  grand 
folks'  turn,  why,  she  behooves  to  steel  herself  against 
nature,  and  she  knows  that  from  the  first;  but  whether 
she  always  does  get  to  harden  herself,  I  take  leave  to 
doubt.  Miss  Lucy,  I  knew  an  unfortunate  girl  that 
nursed  a  young  gentleman,  leastways  a  young  noble- 
man it  was;  and,  years  after  that,  I  have  known  her  to 
stand  outside  the  hedge  for  an  hour  to  catch  a  sight  of 
him  at  play  on  the  lawn  among  the  other  children.  Ay, 
and  if  she  had  a  penny  piece  to  spare  she  would  go  and 
buy  him  sugar-plums,  and  lay  wait  for  him  and  give 
them  him,  and  he  heir  to  thousands  a  year.'' 

"Poor  thing!     Poor  thing!" 

"  Next  to  the  tie  of  blood.  Miss  Lucy,  the  tie  of  milk  is 
a  binding  affection.  When  you  went  to  live  twenty 
miles  from  us  I  behooved  to  come  in  the  cart  and  see  you 
from  time  to  time." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  345 

*'I  remember,  nurse!     I  remember!" 

"When  I  came  to  our  new  farm  hard  by,  you  were 
away;  but  as  soon  as  I  heard  you  were  come  back,  it 
was  like  a  magnet  drawing  me.  I  could  not  keep  away 
from  you." 

"Heaven  forbid  you  should;  and  I  will  come  and 
see  you,  dear  nurse." 

"Will  ye,  now.?  Do,  now.  I  have  got  a  nice  little 
parlour  for  you.  It  is  a  very  good  house  for  a  farm- 
house, and  there  we  can  set  and  talk  at  our  ease,  and  no 
fine  servants  dressed  like  lords  coming  staring  in." 

Lucy  now  proffered  a  timid  request  that  Mrs. 
Wilson  would  take  off  her  bonnet.  "I  want  to  see  your 
good  kind  face  without  any  ornament." 

"Hear  to  that,  now,  the  darling,"  and  off  came  the 
bonnet. 

"Now  your  cap." 

"Well,  I  don't  know:  I  had  n't  time  to  do  my  hair 
as  should  be  before  coming." 

"What  does  that  matter  with  me .?  I  must  see  you 
without  that  cap." 

"What,  don't  you  like  my  new  cap.?  Isn't  it  a 
pretty  cap.?  ^^Tiy,  I  bought  it  a  purpose  to  come  and 
see  you  in." 

"Oh!  it  is  a  very  pretty  cap  in  itself,"  said  the 
courtier,  "but  it  does  not  suit  the  shape  of  your  face. 
Oh!  what  a  difference!  Ah,  now  I  see  your  heart  in 
your  face.     Will  you  let  me  make  you  a  cap .?" 

"Will  you,  now.  Miss  Lucy?  I  shall  be  so  proud 
wearing  it,  our  house  will  scarce  hold  me." 

At  this  juncture  a  footman  came  in  with  a  message 
from  Mrs.  Bazalgette  to  remind  Lucy  they  dined  out. 

"I  must  go  and  dress,  nurse."     She  then  kissed  her. 


346  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

and  promised  to  ride  over  and  visit  her  at  her  farm  next 
week,  and  spend  a  long  time  with  her  quietly,  and  so 
these  new  old  friends  parted. 

Lucy  pondered  every  word  Mrs.  Wilson  had  said 
to  her,  and  said  to  herself,  **What  a  child  I  am  still. 
How  little  I  know.     How  feebly  I  must  have  observed.'* 

The  party  at  dinner  consisted  of  Mr.  Bazalgette, 
David,  and  Reginald,  who,  taking  advantage  of  his 
mother's  absence  and  Lucy's,  had  prevailed  on  the 
servants  to  let  him  dine  with  the  grown-up  ones. 
** Hallo!  urchin,"  said  Mr.  Bazalgette,  "to  what  do 
we  owe  this  honour.^" 

"Papa,"  said  Reginald,  quaking  at  heart,  "if  I 
don't  ever  begin  to  be  a  man,  what  is  to  become  of  me  .^" 

Mr.  Reginald  did  not  exhibit  his  full  powers  at 
dinner  time.  He  was  greatest  at  dessert.  Peaches  and 
apricots  fell  like  blackberries.  He  topped  up  with  the 
ginger  and  other  preserves;  then  he  uttered  a  sigh,  and 
his  eye  dwelt  on  some  candied  pine-apple  he  had  pro- 
crastinated too  long.  Putting  the  pine-apple's  escape, 
and  the  sigh  together,  Mr.  Bazalgette  rightly  judged 
that  absolute  repletion  had  been  attained.  "Come 
Reginald,"  said  he,  "run  away  now,  and  let  Mr.  Dodd 
and  me  have  our  talk."  Before  the  words  were  well 
out  of  his  mouth  a  howl  broke  from  the  terrible  infant. 
He  had  evidently  feared  the  proposal,  and  got  this 
dismal  howl  all  ready. 

"Oh,  papa!  oh!  oh!" 

"What  is  the  matter.?" 

Don't  make  me  go  away  with  the  ladies  this  time. 
Jane  says  I  am  not  a  man,  because  I  go  away  when 
the  ladies  go.     And  cousin  Lucy  won't  marry  me  till 


LOVE  ME  LONG  347 

I  am  a  man.  Oh,  papa,  do  let  me  be  a  man  this 
once." 

*'  Let  him  stay,  sir,"  said  David. 

"Then  he  must  go  and  play  at  the  end  of  the  room, 
and  not  interrupt  our  conversation." 

Mr.  Reginald  consented  with  rapture.  He  had  got 
a  new  puzzle.  He  could  play  at  it  in  a  corner;  all  he 
wanted  was  to  be  able  to  stop  Jane's  mouth,  should 
she  ever  jeer  him  again.  Reginald  thus  disposed  of, 
IVIr.  Bazalgette  invited  David  to  replenish  his  glass,  and 
sit  round  to  the  fire.  The  fire  was  huge,  and  glowing, 
the  cut  glass  sparkled,  and  the  ruby  wine  glowed,  and 
even  the  faces  shone,  and  all  invited  genial  talk.  Yet 
David,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  and  of  his  fate, 
oppressed  with  suspense  and  care,  was  out  of  the  reach 
of  those  genial,  superficial  influences.  He  could  only 
just  mutter  a  word  of  assent  here  and  there,  then 
relapsed  into  his  reverie,  and  eyed  the  fire  thoughtfully 
as  if  his  destiny  lay  there  revealed.  Mr.  Bazalgette,  on 
the  contrary,  glowed  more  and  more  in  manner  as  well 
as  face,  and,  like  many  more  of  his  countrymen,  seemed 
to  imbibe  friendship  with  each  fresh  glass  of  port. 

At  last  under  the  double  influence  of  his  real  liking 
for  David,  and  of  the  Englishman-thawing  Portuguese 
decoction,  he  gave  his  favourite  a  singular  proof  of 
friendship.  It  came  about  as  follows.  Observing  that 
he  had  all  the  talk  to  himself,  he  fixed  his  eyes  with  an 
expression  of  paternal  benevolence  on  his  companion, 
and  was  silent  in  turn. 

David  looked  up  as  we  all  do  when  a  voice  ceases, 
and  saw  this  mild  gaze  dwelling  on  him. 

"  Dodd,  my  boy,  you  don't  say  a  word;  what  is  the 
matter?" 


348  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"I  am  very  bad  company,  sir;  that  is  the  truth." 

*' Well,  fill  your  glass  then,  and  I  '11  talk  for  you.  I 
have  got  something  to  say  to  you,  young  gentleman." 
David  filled  his  glass,  and  forced  himself  to  attend; 
after  a  while  no  effort  was  needed. 

"Dodd,"  resumed  the  mature  merchant,  "I  need 
hardly  tell  you  that  I  have  a  particular  regard  for 
you;  the  reason  is  you  are  a  young  man  of  uncommon 
merit." 

"Mr.  Bazalgette,  sir!  I  don't  know  which  way  to 
look,  when  you  praise  me  like  that.  It  is  your  goodness, 
you   overrate  me." 

**No!  I  don't.  I  am  a  judge  of  men.  I  have  seen 
thousands,  and  seen  them  too  close  to  be  taken  in  by 
their  outside.  You  are  the  only  one  of  my  wife's  friends 
that  ever  had  the  run  of  my  study;  what  do  you  think 
of  that,  now?" 

"I  am  very  proud  of  it,  sir;  that  is  all  I  can  find  to 
say." 

"Well,  young  man,  that  same  good  opinion  I  have 
of  you  induces  me  to  do  something  else  for  you,  that  I 
have  never  done  before  for  any  of  your  predecessors." 

Mr.  Bazalgette  paused.  David's  heart  beat. 
Quick  as  lightning  it  darted  through  his  mind.  "He 
is  going  to  ask  a  favour  for  me.  Promotion?  Why 
not?  He  is  a  merchant.  He  has  friends  in  *the 
Company.'  " 

"I  am  going  to  interfere  in  your  concerns,  Dodd.'" 

"You  are  very  good,  sir." 

"Well,  perhaps  I  am.  I  have  to  overcome  a  natural 
reluctance.  But  you  are  worth  the  struggle.  I  shall 
therefore  go  against  the  usages  of  the  world,  which  I 
don't  care  a  button  for,  and  my  own  habits,  which  I 


LOVE  ME  LONG  349 

care  a  great  deal  for,  and  give  you,  humph  —  a  piece 
of  friendly  advice." 

David  looked  blank. 

"Dodd,  my  boy,  you  are  playing  the  fool  in  this 
house." 

David  looked  blanker. 

"It  is  not  your  fault,  you  are  led  into  it  by  one  of 
those  sweet  creatures  that  love  to  reduce  men  to  the 
level  of  their  own  wisdom;  you  are  in  love,  or  soon 
will  be." 

David  coloured  all  over  like  a  girl,  and  his  face  of 
distress  was  painful  to  see. 

"You  need  not  look  so  frightened,  I  am  your  friend, 
not  your  enemy.  And  do  you  really  think  others  be- 
sides me  have  not  seen  what  is  going  on  ?  Now,  Dodd, 
my  dear  fellow,  I  am  an  old  man,  and  you  are  a  young 
one.     Moreover,  I  understand  the  lady,  and  you  don't. 

"That  is  true,  sir;  I  feel  I  cannot  fathom  her." 

"Poor  fellow!  well,  but  I  have  known  her  longer 
than  you." 

"That  is  true,  sir." 

"And  on  closer  terms  of  intimacy." 

"No  doubt,  sir." 

"Then  listen  to  me.  She  is  all  very  charming, 
outside,  and  full  of  sensibility,  outside;  but  she  has  no 
more  real  feeling  than  a  fish.  She  will  go  a  certain 
length  with  you,  or  with  any  agreeable  young  man;  but 
she  can  always  stop  where  it  suits  her.  No  lady  in 
England  values  position  and  luxury  more  than  she  does, 
or  is  less  likely  to  sacrifice  them  to  love,  a  passion  she  is 
incapable  of.  Here  then  is  a  game  at  which  you  run 
all  the  risk.  No!  leave  her  to  puppies  like  Kenealy: 
they  are  her  natural  prey.     You  must  not  play  such  a 


350  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

heart  as  yours  against  a  marble-taw.  It  is  not  an  even 
stake." 

David  groaned  audibly.  His  first  thought  was: 
**Eve  says  the  same  of  her."  His  second:  "All  the 
world  is  against  her,  poor  thing." 

**Is  she  to  bear  the  blame  of  my  folly.?" 

"Why  not.?  She  is  the  cause  of  your  folly.  It 
began  with  her  setting  her  cap  at  you." 

"No,  sir,  you  do  her  wrong.     She  is  modesty  itself." 

"Ta!  ta!  ta!  you  are  a  sailor,  green  as  seaweed." 

"Mr.  Bazalgette,  as  I  am  a  gentleman,  she  never 
has  encouraged  me  to  love  her  as  I  do." 

"Your  statement,  sir,  is  one  which  becomes  a 
gentleman  —  under  the  circumstances.  But  I  happen 
to  have  watched  her.  It  is  a  thing  I  have  taken  the 
trouble  to  do  for  some  time  past.  It  was  my  interest 
in  you  that  made  me  curious,  and  apprehensive  —  on 
your   account." 

"Then  if  you  have  watched  her  you  must  have  seen 
her  avoid  me." 

"Pooh!  pooh!  that  was  drawing  the  bait;  these  old 
stagers  can  all  do  that." 

"Old  stagers!"  and  David  looked  as  if  blasphemy 
had  been  uttered.  Bazalgette  wore  a  grin  of  infinite 
irony. 

"Don't  be  shocked,"  said  he,  "of  course  I  mean  old 
in  flirtation,  no  lady  is  old  in  years." 

''She  is  not,  at  all  events." 

"It  is  agreed.  There  are  legal  fictions;  and  why 
not  social  ones .?" 

"I  don't  understand  you,  sir;  and,  in  truth,  it  is 
all  a  puzzle  to  me.     You  don't  seem  angry  with  me .?" 

"Why,  of  course  not,  my  poor  fellow,  I  pity  you." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  351 

"Yet  you  discourage  me,  Mr.  Bazalgette." 

"But  not  from  any  selfish  motive.  I  want  to  spare 
you  the  mortification  that  is  in  store  for  you.  Remem- 
ber, I  have  seen  the  end  of  about  a  dozen  of  you." 

"  Good  heavens !  And  what  is  the  end  of  us  .^ " 

"The  cold  shoulder  without  a  day's  warning,  and 
another  fool  set  in  your  place,  and  the  house  door 
slammed  in  your  face,  &c.,  &c.  Oh!  with  her  there 
is  but  one  step  from  flirtation  to  detestation.  Not  one 
of  her  flames  is  her  friend  at  this  moment." 

David  hung  his  head,  and  his  heart  turned  sick; 
there  was  a  silence  of  some  seconds,  during  which 
Bazalgette  eyed  him  keenly.  "Sir,"  said  David  at 
last,  "your  words  go  through  me  like  a  knife." 

"Never  mind.  It  is  a  friendly  surgeon's  knife,  not 
an  assassin's." 

"Yet  you  say  it  is  only  out  of  regard  for  me  you 
warn  me  so  against  her." 

"I  repeat  it." 

"Then,  sir,  if,  by  heaven's  mercy,  you  should  be 
mistaken  in  her  character,  if,  little  as  I  deserve  it,  I 
should  succeed  in  winning  her  regard,  I  might  reckon 
on  your  permission,  on  your  kind  —  support!" 

"Hardly,"  said  Mr.  Bazalgette  hastily.  He  then 
stared  at  the  honest,  earnest  face  that  was  turned  to- 
ward him.  "Well,"  said  he,  "you  modest  gentlemen 
have  certainly  a  marvellous  fund  of  assurance  at  bot- 
tom. No,  sir,  with  the  exception  of  this  piece  of  friend- 
ly advice.  I  shall  be  strictly  neutral.  In  return  for  it, 
if  you  should  succeed,  be  so  good  as  to  take  her  out  of 
the  house,  that  is  the  only  stipulation  I  venture  to 
propose." 

"I  should  be  sure  to  do  that,"  cried  David,  lifting 


352  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

his  eyes  to  heaven  with  rapture,  *'  but  I  shall  not  have  the 
chance." 

*'So  I  keep  telling  you,  you  might  as  well  hope  to 
tempt  a  statue  of  the  Goddess  Flirtation.  She  infinitely 
prefers  wealth  and  vanity  to  anything,  even  to  vice." 

"Vice,  sir;  is  that  a  term  for  us  to  apply  to  a  lady 
like  her  whom  we  are  all  unworthy  to  approach.^"  and 
David  turned  very  red. 

"Well,  you  need  not  quarrel  with  me  about  her,  as 
I  don't  with  you." 

"Quarrel  with  you,  dear  sir.  I  hope  I  feel 
your  kindness,  and  know  my  duty  better;  but,  sir,  1 
am  agitated,  and  my  heart  is  troubled:  and  surely  you 
go  beyond  reason.  She  is  not  old  enough  to  have  had 
so  many  lovers." 

"Humph!  she  has  made  good  use  of  her  time." 

"Even  could  I  believe  that  she,  who  seems  to  me  an 
angel,  is  a  coquette,  still  she  cannot  be  hard  and  heartless 
as  you  describe  her.  It  is  impossible,  it  does  not  be- 
long to  her  years." 

"  You  keep  harping  on  her  age,  Dodd.  Do  you  know 
her  age  ?  if  you  do,  you  have  the  advantage  of  me.  I 
have  not  seen  her  baptismal  register.     Have  you .?" 

"No,  sir,  but  I  know  what  she  says  is  her  age." 

"That  is  only  evidence  of  what  is  not  her  age," 

"But  there  is  her  face,  sir;  that  is  evidence." 

"You  have  never  seen  her  face;  it  is  always  got  up 
to  deceive  the  public." 

"I  have  seen  it  at  the  dawn,  before  any  of  you  were 
up." 

"\\Tiat  is  that.P  hallo!  the  deuce  —  where .? " 

"In  the  garden." 

"In  the  garden.^  oh!  she  does  not  jump  off  her 


LOVE  ME  LONG  353 

down  bed  on  to  a  flower-bed.  She  had  been  an  hour  at 
work  on  that  face  before  ever  the  sun  or  you  got  leave 
to  look  on  it." 

"I  '11  stake  my  head  I  tell  her  age  within  a  year,  Mr. 
Bazalgette.^" 

"No,  you  will  not,  nor  within  ten  years." 

"That  is  soon  seen.     I  call  her  one-and-twenty." 

" One-and-twenty !  !  You  are  mad!  Why,  she  has 
had  a  child  that  would  be  fifteen  now  if  it  had  lived." 

"  Miss  Lucy  ?  A  child  ?  Fifteen  years  ?  What  on 
earth  do  you  mean.?" 

"What  do  you  mean  ?     WTiat  has  Miss  Lucy  to  do 
with  it?     You  know  very  well  it  is  my  wife  I  am       1 
warning  you  against,  not  that  innocent  girl." 

At  this  David  burst  out  in  his  turn.  "Your  wife! 
and  have  you  so  vile  an  opinion  of  me  as  to  think  I 
would  eat  your  bread,  and  tempt  your  wife  under  your 
roof.  Oh,  Mr.  Bazalgette,  is  this  the  esteem  you  profess 
for  me.?" 

"Go  to  the  devil!"  shouted  Bazalgette,  in  double  ire 
at  his  own  blunder,  and  at  being  taken  to  task  by  his 
own  Telemachus;  he  added,  but  in  a  very  different 
tone,  "You  are  too  good  for  this  world." 

The  best  things  we  say  miss  fire  in  conversation; 
only  second-rate  shots  hit  the  mind  through  the  ear. 
This,  we  will  suppose,  is  why  David  derived  no  amuse- 
ment or  delectation  from  Mr.  Bazalgette's  inadvertent 
but  admirable  bon  mot. 

"Go  to  the  devil!  you  are  too  good  for  this  world." 

He  merely  rose,  and  said  gravely,  "Heaven  forgive 
you  your  unjust  suspicions,  and  God  bless  you  for  your 
other  kindness  —  good-bye!" 

"  Why,  where  on  earth  are  you  going." 


354  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"To  stow  away  my  things;  to  pack  up,  as  they  call 
it." 

*'Come  back!  come  back!  why,  what  a  terrible 
fellow  you  are;  you  make  no  allowance  for  metaphors. 
There,  forgive  me,  and  shake  hands.  Now,  sit  down. 
I  esteem  you  more  than  ever.  You  have  come  down 
from  another  age,  and  a  much  better  one  than  this. 
Now,  let  us  be  calm,  quiet,  sensible,  tranquil.  Hallo!'* 
(starting  up  in  agitation),  "a  sudden  light  bursts  on  me. 
You  are  in  love,  and  not  with  my  wife;  then  it  is  with 
my  ward." 

'*  It  is  too  late  to  deny  it,  sir." 

'*That  is  far  more  serious  than  the  other,"  said 
Bazalgette  very  gravely,  "the  old  one  would  have  been 
sure  to  cure  you  of  your  fancy  for  her,  soon  or  late  — 
but  Lucy!  Now,  just  look  at  that  young  buffer's  eyes 
glaring  at  us  like  a  pair  of  saucers." 

"I  am  not  listening,  papa;  I  have  n't  heard  a  word 
you  and  Mr.  Dodd  have  said  about  naughty  ladies.  I 
have  been  such  a  good  boy,  minding  my  puzzle." 

**I  wish  he  may  not  have  been  minding  ours  instead," 
muttered  his  sire,  and  rang  the  bell,  and  ordered  the 
servant  to  take  away  Master  Reginald,  and  bring 
coffee. 

The  pair  sipped  their  coffee  in  dead  silence.  It  was 
broken  at  last  by  David  saying  sadly  and  a  little  bitterly, 
"I  fear,  sir,  your  good  opinion  of  me  does  not  go  the 
length  of  letting  me  come  into  your  family." 

The  merchant  seemed  during  the  last  five  minutes 
to  have  undergone  some  starching  process,  so  changed 
was  his  whole  manner  now;  so  distant,  dignified,  and 
stiff.  "Mr.  Dodd,"  said  he,  "I  am  in  a  difiicult 
position.     Insincerity  is  no  part  of  my  character.  WTien 


LOVE  ME  LONG  355 

I  say  I  have  a  regard  for  a  man,  I  mean  it.     But  I  am 
the  young  lady's  guardian,  sir;  she  is  a  minor,  though 
on  the  verge  of  her  majority,  and  I  cannot  advise  her 
to  a  match,  which,  in  the  received  sense,  would  be  a  very 
bad  one  for  her.     On  the  other  hand,  there  are  so  many 
insuperable  obstacles  between  you  and  her,  that  I  need 
not  combat  my  personal  sentiments  so  far  as  to  act 
against  you;  it  would  indeed  hardly  be  just,  as  I  have 
surprised  your  secret  unfairly,  though  with  no  unfair 
intention.     My   promise   not   to   act   hostilely   implies 
that  I  shall  not  reveal  this  conversation,  or  its  result,  to 
Mrs.  Bazalgette.     If  I  did  I  should  launch  the  deadliest 
of  all  enemies,  irritated  vanity,  upon  you,  for  she  cer- 
tainly looks  on  you  as  her  plaything,  not  her  niece's; 
and  you  would  instantly  be  the  victim  of  her  spite,  and 
of  her  influence  over  Lucy,  if  she  discovered  you  have 
the  insolence  to  escape  her,  and  pursue  another  of  her 
sex,    I    shall    therefore    keep    silence    and    neutrality. 
Meantime,  in  the  character,  not  of  her  guardian  but  of 
your  friend,   I   do  strongly   advise  you  not   to   think 
seriously  of  her.     She  will  never  marry  you.     She  is  a 
good,  kind,  amiable  creature,  but  still  she  is  a  girl  of  the 
world;  has  all   its   lessons   at  her  finger  ends.     Bless 
your  heart,  these  meek  beauties  are  as  ambitious  as 
Lucifer,   and  this  one's   ambition  is  fed  by  constant 
admiration,  by  daily  matrimonial  discussions  with  the 
old  stager;  and,  I  believe,  by  a  good  offer  every  now 
and  then,  which   she    refuses,  because  she  is  waiting 
for  a  better.      Come  now,    it  only  wants  one   good 

wrench " 

David  interrupted  him  mildly,  **Then,  sir,"  said  he 
thoughtfully,  "the  upshot  is,  that  if  she  says  *  yes,'  you 
won't  say  '  no.'  " 


356  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

The  mature  merchant  stared. 

**If!"  said  he,  and  with  this  short  sentence  and  a 
sardonic  grin  he  broke  off  trying — 

"To    fetter    flame    with    flaxen    band." 

So  nothing  more  was  said  or  done  that  evening  worth 
recording. 

The  next  day,  being  the  day  of  the  masquerade, 
was  devoted  by  the  ladies  to  the  making,  altering,  and 
trying  on  of  dresses  in  their  bedrooms.  This  turned 
the  down-stairs  rooms  so  dark  and  unlovely  that  the 
gentlemen  deserted  the  house  one  after  the  other. 
Kenealy  and  Talboys  rode  up  to  see  a  cricket  match 

ten  miles   off.     Hardie   drove   into  the  town  of , 

and  David  paced  the  gravel  walk,  in  hopes  that  by 
keeping  near  the  house  he  might  find  Lucy  alone,  or 
he  was  determined  to  know  his  fate  and  end  his  intoler- 
able suspense. 

He  had  paced  the  walk  about  an  hour  when  fortune 
seemed  to  favour  his  desires.  Lucy  came  out  into  the 
garden.  David's  heart  beat  violently.  To  his  great 
annoyance  Mr.  Fountain  followed  her  out  of  the 
house,  and  called  her.  She  stopped  and  he  joined 
her;  and  very  soon  uncle  and  niece  were  engaged  in 
a  conversation,  which  seemed  so  earnest  that  David 
withdrew  to  another  part  of  the  garden  not  to  interfere 
with  them. 

He  waited,  and  waited,  and  waited,  till  they  should 
separate;  but  no,  they  walked  more  and  more  slowly, 
and  the  conversation  seemed  to  deepen  in  interest. 
David  chafed.  If  he  had  known  the  nature  of  that 
conversation  he  would  have  writhed  with  torture  as 
well  as  fretted  with  impatience.     For  there  the  hand 


LOVE  ME  LONG  357 

of  her  he  loved  was  sought  in  marriage  before  his 
eyes,  and  within  a  few  steps  of  him.  On  such  threads 
hangs  human  life.  Had  he  been  at  the  hall  door 
instead  of  in  the  garden,  he  might  have  anticipated 
Mr.  Fountain.  As  it  was,  Mr.  Fountain  stole  the 
march  on  him. 


CHAPTER  XV 

To-morrow  Lucy  had  agreed  to  sail,  and  in  the  boat 
Mr.  Talboys  was  to  ask  and  win  her  hand.  But  from 
the  first  Mr.  Fountain  had  never  a  child-like  confidence 
in  the  scheme,  and  his  understanding  kept  rebelling 
against  it  more  and  more. 

*'The  man  that  means  to  pop,  pops,"  said  he;  *'one 
need  n't  go  to  sea  —  to  pop.  Terra  firma  is  popable 
on,  if  it  is  nothing  else.  These  young  fellows  are  like 
novices  with  a  gun;  the  bird  must  be  in  a  position,  or 
they  can't  shoot  it  —  with  their  pop-guns;  the  young 
sparks  in  my  day  could  pop  them  down  flying.  We 
popped  out  walking,  popped  out  riding,  popped  dancing, 
popped  psalm-singing.  Talboys  could  not  pop  on 
horseback,  because  the  lady's  pony  fidgeted,  not  his. 
Well,  it  will  be  so  to-morrow.  The  boat  will  misbe- 
have, or  the  wind  will  be  easterly,  and  I  shall  be  told 
southerly  is  the  popping  wind.  The  truth  is  he  is  faint- 
hearted. His  sires  conquered  England,  and  he  is  afraid 
of  a  young  girl.  I  '11  end  this  nonsense.  He  shall  pop 
by  proxy." 

In  pursuance  of  this  resolve,  seeing  his  niece  pass 
through  the  hall  with  her  garden-hat  on,  he  called  to 
her  that  he  would  get  his  hat  and  join  her.  They 
took  one  turn  together  almost  in  silence,  Fountain 
was  thinking  how  he  should  best  open  the  subject, 
and  Lucy  waiting  after  her  own  fashion;  for  she  saw 
by  the  old  man's  manner  he  had  something  to  say 
to  her, 

358 


LOVE  ME  LONG  359 

"Lucy,  my  dear,  I  leave  you  in  a  day  or  two." 
"So  soon,  uncle?" 

"And  it  depends  on  you  whether  I  am  to  go  away  a 
happy  or  a  disappointed  old  man." 

At  these  words,  to  which  she  was  too  cautious  to 
reply  in  words,  Lucy  wore  a  puzzled  air;  but  under- 
neath it  a  keen  observer  might  have  noticed  her  cheek 
pale  a  little,  a  very  little,  and  a  quiver  of  suppressed 
agitation  pass  over  her,  like  a  current  of  air  in  summer 
over  a  smooth  lake. 

Receiving  no  answer,  Mr.  Fountain  went  on  to 
remind  her  that  he  was  her  only  kinsman;  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette  being  her  relation  by  half-blood  only;  and  told  her 
that,  looking  on  himself  as  her  father,  he  had  always 
been  anxious  to  see  her  position  in  life  secured  before 
his  own  death. 

"I  have  been  ambitious  for  you,  my  dear,"  said  he, 
**but  not  more  so  than  your  beauty  and  accomplish- 
ments and  your  family  name  entitle  us  to  be.  Well, 
my  ambition  for  you,  and  my  affection  for  you,  are  both 
about  to  be  gratified;  at  least,  it  now  rests  with  you 
to  gratify  them.     Will  you  be  Mrs.  Talboys.^" 

Lucy  looked  down,  and  said  demurely.  "What  a 
question  for  a  third  person  to  put!" 

Should  I  put  it  if  I  had  not  a  right  ?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"You  ought  to  know,  Lucy." 

"Mr.  Talboys  has  authorised  you,  dear.?" 

"He  has." 

"Then,  this  is  a  formal  proposal  from  Mr.  Talboys .?" 

"Of  course  it  is,"  said  the  old  gentleman  fearlessly; 
for  Lucy's  manner  of  putting  these  questions  was  colour- 
less, nobody  would  have  guessed  what  she  was  at. 


360  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

She  now  threw  her  arm  around  her  uncle's  neck,  and 
kissed  him;  which  made  him  exult  prematurely. 

*'Then,  dear  uncle,"  said  she  lovingly,  "you  must 
tell  Mr.  Talboys,  that  I  thank  him  for  the  honour  he 
does  me,  and  that  I  decline." 

"Accept,  you  mean." 

"No,  I  don't  — ha!  ha!" 

Her  laugh  died  rapidly  away  at  sight  of  the  effect  of 
her  words:  Mr.  Fountain  started,  and  his  face  turned 
red  and  pale  alternately. 

"Refuse  my  friend  —  refuse  Talboys  in  that  way? 
thoughtless  girl,  you  don't  know  what  you  are  doing! 
his  family  is  all  but  noble:  what  am  I  saying ?  Noble  ? 
why,  half  the  House  of  Peers  is  sprung  from  the  dregs 
of  the  people,  and  got  there  either  by  pettifogging  in  the 
law  courts,  or  selling  consciences  in  the  Lower  House; 
and  of  the  other  half  that  are  gentlemen  of  descent,  not 
two  in  twenty  can  show  a  pedigree  like  Talboys.  And 
with  that  name  a  princely  mansion;  antiquity  stamped 
on  it  —  stands  in  its  own  park,  in  the  middle  of  its  vast 
estates,  with  title-deeds  in  black  letter,  girl." 

"  But,  uncle,  all  this  is  encumbered " 

"It  is  false!  who  ever  told  you  so.?  There  is  not  a 
mortgage  on  any  part  of  it,  only  a  few  trifling  copy- 
holds and  peppercorn  rents." 

"You  misunderstand  me;  I  was  going  to  say,  it  is  en- 
cumbered with  a  gentleman  for  whom  I  could  never  feel 
affection,  because  he  does  not  inspire  me  with  respect." 

"Nonsense!  he  inspires  universal  respect." 

"It  must  be  by  his  estates  then,  not  his  character. 
You  know,  uncle,  the  world  is  more  apt  to  ask, '  What 
has  he,  than  what  is  he .? ' " 


LOVE  ME  LONG  361 

"He  is  a  polished  gentleman." 

"But  not  a  well-bred  one." 

"The  best  bred  I  ever  saw." 

"Then  you  never  looked  in  a  glass,  dear.  No,  dear 
uncle,  I  will  tell  you.  Mr.  Talboys  has  seen  the  world, 
has  kept  good  society,  is  at  his  ease  (a  great  point),  and 

is  perfect  in  externals.     But  his  good  manners  are 

what  shall  I  say  ?  coat  deep.  His  politeness  is  not  proof 
against  temptation,  however  petty.  The  reason  is,  it  is 
only  a  spurious  politeness.  Real  politeness  is  founded 
and  built  on  the  golden  rule,  however  delicate  and 
artificial  its  superstructure  may  be.  But  leaving  out 
of  the  question  the  politeness  of  the  heart,  he  has  not 
in  any  sense  the  true  art  of  good  breeding;  he  has  only 
the  common  traditions.  Put  him  in  a  novel  situation 
with  no  rules  and  examples  to  guide  him,  he  would 
be  maladroit  as  a  schoolboy,  or  college-boy.  He  is  just 
the  counterpart  of  Mr.  Dodd  in  that  respect.  Poor  Mr. 
Dodd  is  always  shocking  one  by  violating  the  commonest 
rules  of  society;  but  every  now  and  then  he  bursts  out 
with  a  flash  of  natural  courtesy,  so  bright,  so  refined, 
so  original,  yet  so  worthy  of  imitation,  that  you  say  to 
yourself,  this  is  genius,  the  genius  of  good  breeding." 

Mr.  Fountain  chafed  with  impatience  during  this 
tirade,  in  which  he  justly  suspected  an  attempt  to  fritter 
away  a  serious  discussion. 

"  Come  off  your  hobby,  Lucy,"  cried  he,  "  and  speak 
to  me  like  a  woman,  and  like  my  niece.  If  this  is  your 
objection,  overcome  it,  for  my  sake." 

"I  would,  dear,"  said  Lucy,  "but  it  is  only  one  of 
my  objections,  and  by  no  means  the  most  serious." 

On  being  invited  to  come  at  once  to  the  latter,  Lucy 
hesitated.     "  Would  not  that  be  unamiable  on  my  part  ? 


362  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Mr.  Talboys  has  just  paid  me  the  highest  compHment 
a  gentleman  can  pay  a  lady;  it  is  for  me  to  decline 
him  courteously,  not  abuse  him  to  his  friend  —  and 
representative." 

"No  humbug,  Lucy,  if  you  please:  I  am  in  no 
humour  for  it." 

"We  should  all  be  savages  without  a  little  humbug." 

"I  am  waiting." 

"Then  pledge  me  your  word  of  honour,  no  word  of 
what  I  now  say  to  the  disadvantage  of  poor  Mr.  Talboys 
shall  ever  reach  him." 

"You  may  take  your  oath  of  that." 

"Then  he  is  a  detractor,  a  character  I  despise." 

"Who  does  he  detract  from.?     I  never  heard  him." 

"From  all  his  superiors:  in  other  words,  from  every- 
body he  meets.  Did  you  ever  know  him  fail  to  sneer 
at  Mr.  Hardie.?" 

"Oh!  that  is  the  offense,  is  it.?" 

"No,  it  is  the  same  with  others.  There,  the  other 
day,  Mr.  Dodd  joined  us  on  horseback.  He  did  not 
dress  for  the  occasion.  He  had  no  straps  on.  He  came 
in  a  hurry  to  have  our  society,  not  to  cut  a  dash.  But 
there  was  Mr.  Talboys,  who  can  only  do  this  one  thing 
well,  and  who,  thanks  to  his  servant,  had  straps  on, 
sneering  the  whole  time  at  Mr.  Dodd,  who  has  mastered 
a  dozen  far  more  diflficult  and  more  honourable  accom- 
plishments than  putting  on  straps  and  sitting  on  horses. 
But  he  is  always  backbiting  and  sneering  —  he  admires 
nothing  and  nobody." 

"He  has  admired  you  ever  since  he  saw  you." 

"What,  has  he  never  sneered  at  me .?" 

"Never!  ungrateful  girl,  never." 

"Then,  that  is  very  humiliating.     He  takes  me  for 


LOVE  ME  LONG  363 

his  inferior.  His  superiors  he  always  sneers  at.  If  he 
had  seen  anything  good  or  spirited  in  me,  he  could  not 
have  helped  detracting  from  me.  Is  not  this  a  serious 
reason  ?  that  I  despise  the  person  who  now  solicits  my 
love,  honour,  and  obedience  ?  Well  then,  there  is 
another,  a  stronger  still,  but  perhaps  you  will  call  it  a 
woman's  reason." 

'*I  know  —  you  don't  like  him,  that  is,  you  fancy 
you  don't,  and  can't." 

"No,  uncle,  it  is  not  that  I  don't  like  him.     It  is 

that  I  HATE  HIM." 

"You  hate  him.^"  and  Mr.  Fountain  looked  at  her 
to  see  if  it  was  his  niece  Lucy  who  was  uttering  words  so 
entirely  out  of  character. 

"  I  am  but  a  poor  hater.  I  have  but  little  practice ;  but 
with  all  the  power  of  hating  I  do  possess,  I  hate  that  Mr. 
Talboys.  Oh,  uncle,  how  delicious  it  is  to  speak  one's 
mind  for  once.  It  is  a  luxury  I  seldom  indulge  in.  Yes, 
uncle,"  said  Lucy,  clenching  her  white  teeth,  "I  hate 
that  man,  and  I  did  hope  his  proposal  would  have  come 
from  himself;  then  there  would  have  been  nothing  to 
alloy  my  quiet  satisfaction  at  mortifying  one  who  is  so 
ready  to  mortify  others.  But  no,  he  has  bewitched  you, 
and  you  take  his  part,  and  you  looked  vexed;  so  all  my 
pleasure  is  turned  to  pain." 

"It  is  all  self-deception,"  gasped  Fountain,  in  con- 
siderable agitation;  "you  girls  are  always  deceiving 
yourselves,  you  none  of  you  hate  any  man  —  unless 
you  love  him.  He  tells  me  you  have  encouraged  him  of 
late.     You  had  better  tell  me  that  is  a  lie ! " 

"A  lie!  uncle;  what  an  expression!  Mr.  Talboys 
is  a  gentleman!  he  would  not  tell  a  falsehood,  I 
presume." 


364  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Aha!  it  is  true  then,  you  have  encouraged  him." 

"A  little." 

*' There,  you  see;  the  moment  we  come  from  gen- 
eralities to  facts  what  a  simpleton  you  are  proved  to 
be.  Come  now,  you  did  or  you  did  not  agree  to  go 
in  a  boat  with  him?" 

"I  did,  dear." 

"That  was  a  pretty  strong  measure,  Lucy." 

"Very  strong,  I  think.     I  can  tell  you  I  hesitated." 

"Now  you  see  how  you  have  mistaken  your  own 
feelings." 

Lucy  hung  her  head.  "Oh,  uncle,  you  call  me 
simple  —  and  look  at  you !  fancy  not  seeing  w  hy  I 
agreed  to  go  —  'dans  cette  galere.'  It  was  that  Mr. 
Talboys  might  declare  himself,  and  so  I  might  get  rid 
of  him  for  ever.  I  saw  that  if  I  could  not  bring  him  to 
the  point,  he  would  dangle  about  me  for  years,  and  per- 
haps at  last  succeed  in  irritating  me  to  rudeness.  But 
now,  of  course,  I  shall  stay  on  shore  with  my  uncle 
to-morrow.  *Qu'iraiS'je  faire  dans  cette  galeref^  you 
have  done  it  all  for  me.  Oh!  my  dear,  dear  uncle,  I 
am  so  grateful  to  you." 

She  showed  symptoms  of  caressing  Mr.  Fountain; 
but  he  recoiled  from  her  angrily.  "Viper!  but  no!  this 
is  not  you.  There  is  a  deeper  hand  than  you  in  all  this. 
This  is  that  Mrs.  Bazalgette's  doing." 

"No,  indeed,  uncle." 

"Give  me  a  proof  it  is  not." 

"With  pleasure;  any  proof  that  is  in  my  power." 

"Then  promise  me  not  to  marry  Mr.  Hardie." 

"  My  dear  uncle,  Mr.  Hardie  has  never  asked  me." 

"But  he  will." 

"What  right  have  I  to  say  so  ?     What  right  have  I 


LOVE  ME  LONG  365 

to  constitute  Mr.  Hardie  my  admirer  ?  I  would  not  for 
all  the  world  put  it  into  any  gentleman's  power  to  say, 
'Why  say  "no,"  Miss  Fountain,  before  I  have  asked 
you  to  say  *'yes"  ?  '  Oh!"  and  with  this,  Lucy  put  her 
face  into  her  hands;  but  they  were  not  large  enough 
to  hide  the  deep  blush  that  suffused  her  whole  face  at 
the  bare  idea  of  being  betrayed  into  an  indelicacy  of  this 
sort. 

*'How  could  he  say  that.^  how  could  he  know.?" 
said  Mr.  Fountain  pettishly, 

'*  Uncle,  I  cannot,  I  dare  not  —  you  and  my  aunt 
hate  one  another;  so  you  might  be  tempted  to  tell  her, 
and  she  would  be  sure  to  tell  him.  Besides,  I  cannot, 
my  very  instinct  revolts  from  it.  It  would  not  be 
modest.  I  love  you,  uncle.  Let  me  know  your  wishes, 
and  have  some  faith  in  my  affection.  But,  pray,  do 
not  press  me  further !  Oh !  what  have  I  done  —  to  be 
spoken  of  with  so  many  gentlemen!" 

Lucy  was  in  evident  agitation,  and  the  rising  blushes 
glowed  more  and  more  round  her  snowy  hands,  and 
between  her  delicate  fingers;  and  there  is  something  so 
sacred  about  the  modesty  alarmed  of  an  intelligent  young 
woman.  It  is  a  feeling  which,  however  fantastical,  is 
so  genuine  in  her,  and  so  manifestly  intense  beyond  all 
that  we  can  ourselves  feel  of  the  kind,  that  no  man,  who 
is  not  utterly  stupid  or  depraved,  can  see  it  without  a 
certain  awe.  Even  Mr.  Fountain,  who  looked  on 
Lucy's  distress  as  transcendent  folly  with  a  dash  of 
hypocrisy,  could  not  go  on  making  her  cheek  burn  so. 
''There!  there!"  cried  he,  "don't  torment  yourself, 
Lucy,  I  will  spare  your  fanciful  delicacy,  though  you 
have  no  pity  on  me;  on  your  poor  old  uncle,  whose 
heart  you  will  break  if  you  decline  this  match." 


366  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

At  these  words,  and  the  old  man's  change  from  anger 
to  sadness,  Lucy  looked  up  in  dismay,  and  the  vivid 
colour  died  like  a  retiring  wave  out  of  her  cheek.  *^  You 
look  surprised,  Lucy.  What,  do  you  think  this  will  not 
be  a  heart-breaking  disappointment  to  me?  If  you 
knew  how  I  have  schemed  for  it  —  what  I  have  done, 
and  endured  to  bring  it  about !  To  quarter  the  arms  of 
Fontaine  and  Talboys!  I  put  by  the  <£5,000  directly, 
and  as  much  more  of  my  own,  that  you  should  not  go 
into  that  noble  family  without  a  proper  settlement. 
It  was  the  dream  of  my  heart.  I  could  have  died  con- 
tented the  next  hour.  More  fool  I  —  to  care  for  any- 
body but  myself.  Your  selfish  people  escape  these 
bitter  disappointments.  Well,  it  is  a  lesson.  From 
this  hour  I  will  live  for  myself  and  care  for  nobody, 
for  nobody  cares  for  me." 

These  words  uttered  with  great  agitation,  and,  I 
believe,  with  perfect  sincerity  in  his  own  unselfishness 
and  hard  fate,  were  terrible  to  Lucv.  She  wreathed 
her  arms  suddenly  round  him. 

"Oh,  uncle,"  she  cried  despairingly;  "kill  me! 
send  me  to  heaven!  send  me  to  my  mother!  But  don't 
stab  me  with  such  bitter  words,"  and  she  trembled  with 
an  emotion  so  much  more  powerful  and  convulsing 
than  his,  in  which  temper  had  a  large  share,  that  she 
once  more  cowed  him. 

"There!  there!"  he  muttered,  "I  don't  want  to  kill 
you,  child,  God  knows;  or  to  hurt  you  in  any  way." 

Lucy  trembled,  and  tried  to  smile.  The  good- 
nature, which  was  the  upper  crust  of  this  man's  charac- 
ter, got  the  better  of  him. 

"There!  there!  don't  distress  yourself  so.  I  know 
whom  I  have  to  thank  for  all  this." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  367 

''She  has  not  the  power,"  said  Lucy,  in  a  faint  voice, 
"  to  make  me  ungrateful  to  you." 

Mind  is  more  rapid  than  lightning.  At  this  moment, 
in  the  middle  of  a  sentence,  it  flashed  across  Lucy  that 
her  aunt  had  convinced  her,  sore  against  her  will,  there 
was  a  strong  element  of  selfishness  in  Mr.  Fountain. 
"But  it  is  that  he  deceives  himself,"  thought  Lucy; 
*'he  would  sacrifice  my  happiness  to  his  hobby,  and 
think,  he  had  done  it  for  love  of  me."  Enlightened  by 
this  rapid  reflection,  she  did  not  say  to  him  as  one  of  his 
own  sex  would,  "  Look  in  your  own  heart,  and  you 
will  see  that  all  this  is  not  love  of  me,  but  of  your 
own  schemes."  Oh,  dear  no!  that  would  not  have 
been  the  woman.  She  took  him  round  the  neck, 
and  fixing  her  sapphire  eyes  lovingly  on  his,  she 
said,  **It  is  for  love  of  me  you  set  your  heart  on  this 
great  match  ?  you  wish  to  see  me  well  settled  in  the 
world,  and,  above  all,  happy?" 

"Of  course  it  is.  I  told  you  so.  What  other  object 
can  I  have.?" 

"Then  if  you  saw  me  wretched,  and  degraded  in  my 
own  eyes,  your  heart  would  bleed  for  your  poor  niece 
—  too  late.  Well,  uncle,  I  love  you  too,  and  I  save  you 
this  day  from  remorse.  Oh,  think  what  it  must  be  to 
hate  and  despise  a  man,  and  link  yourself  body  and 
soul  to  that  man  for  life!  Oh,  think  and  shudder  with 
me,  uncle.  I  have  a  quick  eye.  I  have  seen  your  lip 
curl  with  contempt  when  that  fool  has  been  talking; 
ah !  you  blush :  you  are  too  much  his  superior  in  every- 
thing but  fortune  not  to  despise  him  at  heart.  See 
the  thing  as  it  is!  Speak  to  me  as  you  would  if  my 
mother  stood  here  beside  us,  uncle,  and  to  speak  to 
me  you  must  look  her  in  the  face.     Could  you  say  to 


368  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

me  before  her,  *I  love  you;  marry  a  man  we  both 
despise' !  ?  " 

Mr.  Fountain  made  no  answer.  He  was  discon- 
certed. Nothing  is  so  easy  to  resist  as  logic:  we  see  it, 
as  a  general  rule,  resisted  with  great  success  in  public 
and  private  every  day;  but  when  it  comes  in  good  com- 
pany, a  voice  of  music,  an  angel  face,  gentle  persuasive 
caresses,  and  imploring  eyes,  it  ceases  to  revolt  the 
understanding.  And  so,  caught  in  his  own  trap,  foiled, 
baffled,  soothed,  caressed,  all  in  one  breath,  Mr.  Foun- 
tain hung  his  head,  and  could  not  immediately  reply. 

Lucy  followed  up  her  advantage.  '*No,"  cried 
she,  "say  to  me, '  I  love  you,  Lucy:  marry  nobody;  stay 
with  your  uncle,  and  find  your  happiness  in  contributing 
to  his  comfort.'  " 

"What  is  the  use  my  saying  that,  when  I  have  got 
Mother  Bazalgette  against  me,  and  her  shopkeeper  ?" 

"Never  mind,  uncle,  you  say  it:  and  time  will  show 
whether  your  influence  is  small  with  me,  and  my  aflPec- 
tion  small  for  you;"  and  she  looked  in  his  face  with 
glistening  eyes. 

"Well,  then,"  said  he,  "I  do  say  it;  and  I  suppose 
that  means  I  must  urge  you  no  more  about  poor 
Talboys." 

A  shower  of  kisses  descended  on  him  that  moment. 
Moral:  Lose  no  time  in  sealing  a  good  bargain. 

"Come  now,  Lucy,  you  must  do  me  a  favour." 

"  Oh,  thank  you !  thank  you !  what  is  it .?  " 

"Ay!  but  it  is  about  Talboys,  too." 

"Never  mind,"  faltered  Lucy,  "if  it  is  anything 
short  of "  (full  stop). 

"It  is  a  long  way  short  of  that.  Look  here,  Lucy, 
I  must  tell  you  the  truth.     He  intends  to  ask  your  hand 


LOVE  ME  LONG  369 

himself :  he  confided  this  to  me ;  but  he  never  authorised 
me  to  commit  him  as  I  have  done.  So  that  this  conver- 
sation cannot  be  acted  on,  it  must  be  a  secret  between 
you  and  me." 

"Oh,  dear!  and  I  thought  I  had  got  rid  of  him  so 
nicely." 

"Don't  be  alarmed,"  groaned  Fountain,  "such 
matches  as  this  can  always  be  dropped  —  the  difficulty 
is  to  bring  them  on.  All  I  ask  of  you,  then,  is  not  to 
make  mischief  between  me  and  my  friend,  the  proudest 
man  in  England.  If  you  don't  value  his  friendship, 
I  do.  You  must  not  let  him  know  I  have  got  him 
insulted  by  a  refusal.  For  instance,  you  had  better  go 
out  sailing  with  him  to-morrow,  as  if  nothing  had 
passed.  Will  your  affection  for  me  carry  you  as  far  as 
that.?" 

The  proposal  was  wormwood  to  Lucy.  So  she 
smiled  and  said  eagerly:  "Is  that  all.?  why,  I  will  do 
it  with  pleasure,  dear.  It  is  not  like  being  in  the  same 
boat  with  him  for  life,  you  know.  Can  you  give  me 
nothing  more  than  that  to  do  for  you  .?" 

"No!  it  does  not  do  to  test  people's  affection  too 
severely.  You  have  shown  me  that.  Go  on  with  your 
walk,  Lucy.     I  shall  go  in." 

"  May  I  not  come  with  you  .?'* 

"No!  my  head  aches  with  all  this;  if  I  don't  mind 
I  shall  eat  no  dinner.  Agitation  and  vexation  don't 
agree  with  me.  I  have  carefully  avoided  them  all  my 
life.  I  must  go  in  and  lie  down  for  an  hour;"  and  he 
left  her  rather  abruptly. 

She  looked  after  him ;  her  subtle  eye  noticed  directly 
that  he  walked  a  little  more  feebly  than  usual.  She 
ascribed   this  to  his    disappointment,  justly    perhaps; 


370  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

for  at  his  age  the  body  has  less  elastic  force  to  resist  a 
mental  blow.  The  sight  of  him  creeping  away  disap- 
pointed and  leaning  heavier  than  usual  on  his  stick, 
knocked  at  her  cool  but  affectionate  heart;  she  began 
to  cry  bitterly.  When  he  was  quite  out  of  sight  she 
turned  and  paced  the  gravel  slowly  and  sadly.  It  was 
new  to  her  to  refuse  her  uncle  anything;  still  more 
strange  to  have  to  refuse  him  a  serious  wish.  She  was 
prepared,  thoroughly  prepared,  for  the  proposal,  but 
not  to  find  the  old  man's  heart  so  deeply  set  upon  it. 
A  wild  impulse  came  over  her,  to  call  him  back  and 
sacrifice  herself;  but  the  high  spirit  and  intelligence, 
that  lay  beneath  her  tenderness  and  complaisance, 
stood  firm.  Yet  she  felt  almost  guilty,  and  very, 
very  unhappy;  as  we  call  it  at  her  age.  She  kept 
sighing,  "Poor  uncle!"  and  paced  the  gravel  very 
slowly,  hanging  her  sweet  head,  and  crying  as  she 
went. 

At  the  end  of  the  walk  David  Dodd  stood  suddenly 
before  her.  He  came  flurried,  on  his  own  account, 
but  stopped  thunderstruck  at  her  tears.  "What  is  the 
matter.  Miss  Lucy  ?"  said  he  anxiously. 

"Oh,  nothing,  Mr.  Dodd;"  and  they  flowed  afresh. 

"Can  I  do  anything  for  you,  Miss  Lucy.?" 

"No!  Mr.  Dodd." 

"Won't  you  tell  me  what  is  the  matter.?  are  you  not 
friends  with  me  to-day.?" 

"I  was  put  out  by  a  very  foolish  circumstance,  Mr. 
Dodd;  and  it  is  one  with  which  I  shall  not  trouble  you, 
nor  any  person  of  sense.  I  prefer  to  retain  your  sym- 
pathy by  not  revealing  the  contemptible  cause  of  my 
babyish .     There!"     She  shook  her  head  proudly, 


LOVE  ME  LONG  371 

as  if  tears  were  to  be  dispersed  like  dewdrops. 
"There,"  she  repeated;  and  at  this  second  effort  she 
smiled  radiantly. 

'*It  is  like  the  sun  coming  out  after  a  shower,"  cried 
David  rapturously. 

"That  reminds  me,  I  must  be  going  in,  Mr.  Dodd." 

"Don't  say  that,  Miss  Lucy.     What  for .?" 

"To  arrange  another  shower,  one  of  pearls,  on  a 
dress  I  am  to  wear  to-night." 

David  sighed.  "Ah!  Miss  Lucy,  at  sight  of  me 
you  always  make  for  the  hall  door." 

Lucy  coloured.  "Oh!  do  I.^  I  really  was  not 
aware  of  that.  Then,  I  suppose,  I  am  afraid  of  you. 
Is  that  what  you  would  insinuate  ?" 

"No!  Miss  Lucy,  you  are  not  afraid  of  me;  but  I 
sometimes  fear "  and  he  hesitated. 

"It  must  blow  very  hard  that  day,"  said  Lucy,  with 
a  world  of  politeness.  Her  tongue  was  too  quick  for 
him.  He  found  it  so,  and  announced  the  fact  after  his 
fashion. 

"I  can't  tack  fast  enough  to  follow  you,"  said  he 
despondently. 

"But  you  are  not  required  to  follow  me,"  replied 
this  amiable  eel,  with  hypocritical  benignity;  "I  am 
going  to  my  aunt's  room  to  do  what  I  told  you.  I 
leave  you  in  charge  of  the  quarter-deck."  So  saying, 
she  walked  slowly  up  the  steps,  and  left  David  standing 
sorrowfully  on  the  gravel.  At  the  top  step,  Miss  Lucy 
turned,  and  inquired  gently  when  he  was  to  sail.  He 
told  her  the  ship  was  expected  to  anchor  off  the  fort  to- 
morrow; but  she  would  not  sail  till  she  had  got  all  her 
passengers  on  board. 

"Oh,"  said  Lucy,  with  an  air  of  reflection.     She 


372  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

then  leaned  in  an  easy  posture  against  the  wall,  and, 
whether  it  was  that  she  relented  a  little,  or  that,  having 
secured  her  retreat,  she  was  now  indifferent  to  flight, 
certain  it  is  that  she  did,  after  her  own  fashion,  what 
many  a  daughter  of  Eve  has  done  before  her,  and  many 
a  duchess  and  many  a  dairy  maid  will  do  after  La 
Fountain  and  I  are  gone  from  earth.  A  minute  ago  it 
had  been:  **She  must  go  directly;"  the  more  opposition 
to  her  departure,  the  more  inexorable  the  necessity  for 
her  going;  opposition  withdrawn,  and  the  door  open, 
she  stayed  no  end. 

Full  twenty  minutes  did  that  young  lady  stand  there 
unsolicited,  and  chat  with  David  Dodd  in  the  kindest, 
sweetest,  most  amicable  way  imaginable. 

She  little  knew  she  had  an  auditor,  a  female  auditor, 
keen  as  a  lynx. 

AH  this  day  Reginald  George  Bazalgette,  Esq., 
might  have  been  defined  *'a  pest  in  search  of  a 
playmate."  Tom  had  got  a  holiday.  Lucy  only  came 
out  of  her  workshop  to  be  seized  by  Mr.  Fountain. 
David,  who  was  waiting  in  the  garden  for  Lucy,  begged 
Reginald  to  excuse  him  for  once.  The  young  gentle- 
man had  recourse  as  a  pis  oiler  to  his  mamma.  He 
invaded  her  bedroom,  and  besought  her  piteously  to 
play  at  battledore.  That  lady,  sighing  deeply  at  being 
taken  from  her  dress,  consented.  Her  soul  not  being 
in  it,  she  played  very  badly.  Her  cub  did  not  fail  to  tell 
her  so.  "Why,  I  can  keep  up  a  hundred  with  Mr. 
Dodd,"  said  he. 

"Oh!  we  all  know  Mr.  Dodd  is  perfection,"  said  the 
lady  with  a  sneer.     She  was  piqued  with  David.     He 


LOVE  ME  LONG  373 

had  gone  and  left  her  in  a  brutal  way,  to  make  his 
apologies  to  Lucy. 

"  No !  he  is  not,"  said  Reginald.  '*  I  have  found  h:m 
out.     He  is  as  unjust  as  the  rest  of  you." 

"Dear  me!  and,  pray,  what  has  he  done .?" 

"I  will  tell  you,  mamma,  if  you  will  promise  not 
to  tell  papa;  because  he  told  me  not  to  listen,  and  I 
did  n't  listen,  mamma,  because,  you  know,  a  gentle- 
man always  keeps  his  word;  but  they  talked  so  loud 
the  words  would  come  into  my  ear,  I  could  not 
keep  them  out;  mamma,  are  there  any  naughty  ladies 
here.?" 

"No,  my  dear." 

"Then  what  did  papa  mean  warning  Mr.  Dodd 
against  one.?" 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  began  to  listen  as  he  wished. 

"Oh!  he  called  her  all  the  names.  He  said  she  was 
a  statue  of  flirtation." 

"Who.?  Lucy.?" 

"Lucy.?  no!  the  naughty  lady,  the  one  that  had 
twelve  husbands.  He  kept  warning  him,  and  warning  . 
him,  and  then  Mr.  Dodd  and  papa,  they  began  to  / 
quarrel  almost,  because  Mr.  Dodd  said  the  naughty 
lady  was  quite  young,  and  papa  said  she  was  ever  so 
old.  Mr.  Dodd  said  she  was  twenty-one.  But  papa 
told  him  she  must  be  more  than  that,  because  she  had 
a  child  that  would  be  fifteen  years  old;  only  it  died. 
How  old  would  little  sister  Emily  be  if  she  was  alive, 
mamma.  La,  mamma,  how  pretty  you  are  —  you 
have  got  red  cheeks  like  Lucy;  redder,  oh!  ever  so 
much  redder,  and  in  general  they  are  so  pale  before 
dinner.  Let  me  kiss  you,  mamma !  I  do  love  the  ladies 
when  their  cheeks  are  red." 


374  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 


There!  there!  now    go    on,    dear;  tell    nae    some 


more." 


It  is  very  interesting,  isn't  it,  dear  mamma?" 

*'It  is  amusing,  at  all  events." 

"No,  it  is  not  amusing,  at  least  what  came  after 
is  n't;  it  is  wicked,  it  is  unjust,  it  is  abominable." 

"Tell   me,    dear." 

"It  turned  out  it  was  n't  the  naughty  lady  Mr.  Dodd 
was  in  love  for,  and  who  do  you  think  he  is  in  love  of .?" 

"I  have  not  an  idea." 

"My  Lucy!  !  !" 

"Nonsense,  child." 

"No,  no,  mamma!  it  is  not.     He  owned  it  plump." 

"Are  you  quite  sure,  love?" 

"Upon  my  honour." 

"What  did  they  say  next ? " 

"Oh!  next  papa  began  to  talk  his  fine  words  that  I 
don't  know  what  the  meaning  of  them  means  one  bit. 
But  Mr.  Dodd,  he  could  make  them  out,  I  suppose,  for 
he  said,  *  So  then  the  upshot  is,'  there  now,  what  is 
upshot  ?  I  don't  know.  How  stupid  grown-up  people 
are;  they  keep  using  words  that  one  does  n't  know  the 
meaning  of." 

"Never  mind,  love!  tell  me.  What  came  after 
upshot?"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette  soothingly,  with  great 
apparent  calmness  and  flashing  eye. 

"How  kind  you  are  to-day,  mamma.  That  is  twice 
you  have  called  me  love,  and  three  times  dear;  only 
think.  I  should  love  you  if  you  were  always  so  kind  — ■ 
and  your  cheeks  as  red  as  they  are  now." 

"Never  mind  my  cheeks.  What  did  Mr.  Dodd 
say  ?   Try  and  remember,  come, '  the  upshot  was '  " 

"The  upshot  was  —  what  was  the  upshot?     I  for- 


LOVE  ME  LONG  375 

get.  No !  I  remember  —  the  upshot  was  —  if  Lucy 
said  '  yes,'  papa  would  not  say  '  no,'  that  meant  to  marry 
him.  Now  didn't  you  promise  me  her  ever  so  long 
ago;  the  day  you  and  I  agreed  if  I  went  a  whole  day 
without  being  naughty  once,  I  should  have  her  for  ever 
and  ever  —  and  I  did  go." 

"Go  to  Lucy's  room,  and  tell  her  to  come  to  me," 
said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  in  a  stern,  thoughtful  voice,  which 
startled  poor  Reginald  coming  so  soon  after  the  calinerie. 
However,  he  told  her  it  was  no  use  his  going  to  Lucy's 
room,  for  she  was  out  in  the  garden;  he  had  seen  her 
there  walking  with  Mr.  Fountain.  Reginald  then  ran 
to  the  window  which  commanded  the  garden  to  look 
for  Lucy.  He  had  scarcely  reached  it  when  he  began 
to  squeak  wildly.  ' '  Come  here !  come  here !  come  here ! ' ' 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  at  the  window  in  a  moment,  and 
lo!  at  the  end  of  the  garden,  walking  slowly  side  by 
side,  were  Lucy  and  Mr.  Dodd. 

Ridiculous  as  it  may  appear,  a  pang  of  jealousy 
shot  through  the  married  flirt's  heart,  that  made  her 
almost  feel  sick.  This  was  followed  at  the  interval  of 
half  a  second  by  as  pretty  a  little  flame  of  hatred  as  ever  \ 
the  spretoe  injuria  formcB  lighted  up  in  a  coquette's  heart.  * 
Doubt  drove  in  its  smaller  sting  besides,  and  at  sight  of 
the  couple  she  resolved  to  have  better  evidence  than 
Reginald's,  especially  as  to  Lucy's  sentiments.  The 
plan  she  hit  upon  was  effective,  but  vulgar,  and  must 
not  be  witnessed  by  a  boy  of  inconvenient  memory,  and 
mistimed  fluency:  she  got  rid  of  him  with  high- 
principled   dexterity. 

"Reginald,"  said  she  sadly,  "you  are  a  naughty 
boy,  a  disobedient  boy,  to  listen  when  your  papa  told 
you  not,  and  to  tell  me  a  pack  of  falsehoods.     I  must 


376  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

either  tell  your  papa,  or  I  must  punish  you  myself;  1 
prefer  to  do  it  myself,  he  would  whip  you  so;"  with  this 
she  suddenly  opened  her  dressing-room  door,  and 
pushed  the  terrible  infant  in,  and  locked  the  door.  She 
then  told  him  through  the  keyhole  he  had  better  cease 
yelling,  because  if  he  kept  quiet  his  punishment  would 
only  last  half-an-hour,  and  she  flew  downstairs.  There 
was  a  large  hot-house  with  two  doors;  one  of  which 
came  very  near  to  the  house  door  that  opened  into  the 
garden.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  entered  the  hot-house  at  the 
other  end,  and  hidden  by  the  exotic  trees  and  flowers, 
made  rapidly  for  the  door  Lucy  and  David  must  pass. 
She  found  it  wide  open.  She  half  shut  it,  and  slipped 
behind  it,  listening  like  a  hare,  and  spying  like  a  hawk, 
through  the  hinges.  And,  strange  as  it  may  appear, 
she  had  an  idea  she  should  make  a  discovery.  As  the 
finished  sportsman  watches  a  narrow  ride  in  the  wood, 
not  despairing,  by  a  snap-shot,  to  bag  his  hare  as  she 
crosses  it  though  seen  but  for  a  moment;  so  the  Bazal- 
gette felt  sure,  that,  as  the  couple  passed  her  ambush, 
something  either  in  the  two  sentences  they  would  have 
here  to  utter,  or,  more  probably,  in  their  tones  and 
general  manner,  would  reveal  to  one  of  her  experience 
on  what  footing  they  were. 

A  shrewd  calculation!  But  things  will  be  things; 
they  take  such  turns,  I  might  without  exaggeration  say 
twists,  that  calculation  is  puzzled  and  baflfled,  and 
prophecy  dissolved  into  pitch-and-toss.  This  thing 
turned  just  as  not  expected.  Primo,  instead,  of  getting 
only  a  snap-shot,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  heard  every  word  of  a 
long  conversation;  and,  secundo,  when  she  had  heard 
it  she  could  not  tell  for  certain  on  what  footing  the  lady 
and  gentleman  were.     At  first,  from  their  familiarity, 


LOVE  ME  LONG  377 

she  inclined  to  think  they  were  lovers;  but,  the  more  she 
listened,  the  more  doubtful  this  seemed.  Lucy  was  the 
chief  speaker,  and  what  she  said  showed  an  undisguised 
interest  in  her  companion;  but  the  subject  accounted 
in  great  measure  for  that.  She  was  talking  of  his 
approaching  voyage,  of  the  dangers  and  hardships  of 
his  profession,  and  of  his  return  two  years  hence,  his 
chances  of  promotion,  &c.  But  here  was  no  proof 
positive  of  love.  They  were  acquaintances  of  some 
standing;  then  Lucy's  manner  struck  her  as  rather 
amicable  than  amorous.  She  was  calm,  kind,  self- 
possessed,  and  almost  voluble.  As  for  David,  he  only 
got  in  a  word  here  and  there.  WTien  he  did,  there  was 
something  so  different  in  his  voice  from  anything  he 
had  ever  bestowed  on  her,  that  she  hated  him,  and 
longed  to  stick  scissors  into  him  from  the  rear,  unseen. 
At  last,  Lucy  suddenly  recollected  or  seemed  to  recol- 
lect she  was  busy,  and  retired  hastily;  so  hastily  that 
David  saw,  too  late,  his  opportunity  lost.  But  the 
music  of  her  voice  had  so  charmed  him,  that  he  did  not 
like  to  interrupt  it  even  to  speak  of  that  which  was 
nearest  his  heart.  David  sighed  deeply,  standing  there 
alone. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  clenched  her  little  fists,  and  looked 
round  for  the  means  of  vengeance.  David  went  down  on 
his  knees.  La  Bazalgette  glared  through  the  crack,  and 
wondered  what  on  earth  he  was  at  now.  Oh!  he  was 
praying.  **He  loves  her.  He  is  eccentricity  itself;  so 
he  is  praying  for  her,  and  on  my  door-steps  "  (the  house- 
holder wounded  as  well  as  the  flirt).  It  was  lucky 
she  had  not  "a  thunderbolt  in  her  eye."  Shakespeare, 
or  a  celestial  messenger  of  the  wrong  sort,  would  have 
descended  on  the  devout  mariner.     It  was  more  than 


378  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  could  bear;  she  had  now  and  then, 
not  often,  unlady-like  impulses.  One  of  them  had  set 
her  crouching  behind  the  door  of  an  out-house  and 
listening  through  a  crack;  and  now  she  had  another, 
an  irresistible  one:  it  was,  to  take  that  empty  flower- 
pot, fling  it  as  hard  as  ever  she  could  down  on  the  de- 
votee, then  slam  the  door  quick,  fly  out  at  the  other 
door,  and  leave  her  faithless  swain  in  the  agony  of  know- 
ing himself  detected  and  exposed  by  some  unknown  and 
undiscoverable  enemy. 

For  a  vengeance  extemporised  in  less  than  half  a 
second,  this  was  very  respectable.  Well,  she  clawed  the 
flower-pot  noiselessly,  put  her  other  hand  on  the  door, 
cast  a  hasty  glance  at  the  means  of  retreat,  and  —  things 
took  another  twist.  She  heard  the  rustle  of  a  coming 
gown,  and  drew  back  again,  and  out  came  Lucy,  and 
nearly  ran  over  David,  who  was  not  on  his  knees  in  point 
of  fact,  but  down  on  h\^  nose,  prostrate  orientally.  The 
truth  is,  Lucy,  amongst  her  other  qualities  good  and  bad, 
was  a  born  house- wife,  and  solicitously  careful  of  certain 
odds  and  ends  called  property.  She  found  she  had 
dropped  one  of  her  gloves  in  the  garden,  and  she  came 
back  in  a  state  of  disproportionate  uneasiness  to  find  it, 
and  nearly  ran  over  David  Dodd. 

"What  are  you  doing,  Mr.  Dodd .?" 

David  rose  from  his  oriental  position,  and,  being  a 
young  man  whose  impulse  always  was  to  tell  the  simple 
truth,  replied,  "I  was  kissing  the  place  where  you  stood 
so  long." 

He  did  not  feel  he  had  done  anything  extraordinary, 
so  he  gave  her  this  information  composedly;  but  her 
face  was  scarlet  in  an  instant,  and  he,  seeing  that,  began 
to  blush  too.     For  once  Lucy's  tact  was  bajffled;  she 


LOVE  ME  LONG  379 

did  not  know  what  on  earth  to  say,  and  she  stood  blush- 
ing like  a  girl  of  fifteen. 

Then  she  tried  to  turn  it  off. 

"Mr.  Dodd,  how  can  you  be  so  ridiculous.^"  said 
she,  affecting  humorous  disdain. 

But  David  was  not  to  be  put  down  now:  he  was 
launched. 

*'I  am  not  ridiculous  for  loving  and  worshipping 
you,  for  you  are  worthy  of  even  more  love  than  any 
human  heart  can  hold." 

**Oh,  hush!  Mr.  Dodd!  I  must  not  hear  this." 

**Miss  Lucy,  I  can't  keep  it  any  longer,  you  must, 
you  shall  hear  me.  You  can  despise  my  love  if  you  will, 
but  you  shall  know  it  before  you  reject  it." 

"Mr.  Dodd,  you  have  every  right  to  be  heard.  But 
let  me  persuade  you  not  to  insist.  Oh !  why  did  I  come 
back!" 

"The  first  moment  I  saw  you.  Miss  Lucy,  it  was  a 
new  life  to  me.  I  never  looked  twice  at  any  girl  before. 
It  is  not  your  beauty  only;  oh,  no!  it  is  your  goodness, 
goodness  such  as  I  never  thought  was  to  be  found  on 
earth.  Don't  turn  your  head  from  me!  I  know  my 
defects:  could  I  look  on  you,  and  not  see  them;  my 
manners  are  blunt  and  rude,  oh!  how  different  from 
yours !  But  you  could  soon  make  me  a  fine  gentleman ; 
I  love  you  so.  And  I  am  only  the  first  mate  of  an  India- 
man,  but  I  should  be  a  captain  next  voyage,  Miss  Lucy, 
and  a  sailor  like  me,  he  has  no  expenses;  all  he  has  is 
his  wife's.  The  first  lady  in  the  land  will  not  be  petted 
as  you  will,  if  you  will  look  kindly  on  me.  Listen  to 
me,"  trying  to  tempt  her.  "No,  Miss  Lucy,  I  have 
nothing  to  offer  you  worth  your  acceptance,  only  my 


380  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

love.  No  man  ever  loved  woman  as  I  love  you;  it  is 
not  love,  it  is  worship,  it  is  adoration.  Ah !  she  is  going 
to  speak  to  me  at  last!" 

Lucy  presented  at  this  moment  a  strange  contrast 
of  calmness  and  agitation.  Her  bosom  heaved  quickly, 
and  she  was  pale,  but  her  voice  was  calm,  and  though 
gentle,  decided. 

**I  know  you  love  me,  Mr.  Dodd,  and  I  feared  this. 
I  have  tried  to  save  you  the  mortification  of  being 
declined  by  one,  who  in  many  things  is  your  inferior. 
I  have  even  been  rude  and  unkind  to  you.  Forgive 
me  for  it.  I  meant  it  kindly.  I  regret  it  now.  Mr. 
Dodd,  I  thank  you  for  the  honour  you  do  me;  but  I 
cannot  accept  your  love."  There  was  a  pause;  but 
David's  tongue  seemed  glued  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth. 
He  was  not  surprised,  yet  he  was  stupefied  when  the 
blow  came. 

At  last  he  gasped  out,  **  You  love  some  other  man .?" 

Lucy  was  silent. 

"Answer  me,  for  pity's  sake;  give  me  something  to 
help  me." 

"You  have  no  right  to  ask  me  such  a  question,  but 
—  I  have  no  attachment,  Mr.  Dodd." 

"Ah!  then  one  word  more,  is  it  because  you  cannot 
love  me,  or  because  I  am  poor,  and  only  first  mate  of  an 
Indiaman.^" 

"  That  I  will  not  answer;  you  have  no  right  to  ques- 
tion a  lady,  why  she  —  stay !  you  wish  to  despise  me. 
Well !  why  not,  if  that  will  cure  you  of  this  unfortunate  — 
think  what  you  please  of  me,  Mr.  Dodd,"  murmured 
Lucy  sadly. 

"Ah,  you  know  I  can't,"  cried  David  despairingly. 

"I  know  you  esteem  me  more  than  I  deserve;  well. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  381 

I  esteem  you,  Mr.  Dodd.  Wliy  then  can  we  not  be 
friends  ?  You  have  only  to  promise  me  you  will  never 
return  to  this  subject  —  come!" 

"Me  promise  not  to  love  you!  what  is  the  use?  me 
be  your  friend,  and  nothing  more,  and  stand  looking  on 
at  the  heaven  that  is  to  be  another's  and  never  to  be 
mine?  It  is  my  turn  to  decline.  Never!  Betrothed 
lovers,  or  strangers,  but  nothing  between.  It  would 
drive  me  mad.  Away  from  you,  and  out  of  sight  of 
your  sweet  face,  I  may  make  shift  to  live,  and  go  through 
my  duty  somehow,  for  my  mother's  and  sister's  sake." 

"You  are  wiser  than  I  was,  Mr.  Dodd.  Yes,  we 
must  part." 

"Of  course  we  must.  I  have  got  my  answer,  and  a 
kinder  one  than  I  deserve;  and  now,  what  is  the  polite 
thing  for  me  to  do,  I  wonder?"  David  said  this  with 
terrible  bitterness. 

"You  frighten  me,"  sighed  Lucy. 

"Don't  you  be  frightened,  sweet  angel;  there,  I  have 
been  used  to  obey  orders  all  my  life,  and  I  am  like  a 
ship  tossed  in  the  breakers,  and  you  are  calm,  calm  as 
death.     Give  me  my  orders,  for  God's  sake." 

"It  is  not  for  me  to  command  you,  Mr.  Dodd.  I 
have  forfeited  that  right.  But  listen  to  her  who  still 
asks  to  be  your  friend,  and  she  will  tell  you  what  will  be 
best  for  you,  and  kindest,  and  most  generous  to  her." 

"Tell  me  about  that  last;  the  other  is  a  waste  of 
words." 

"I  will  then:  your  sister  is  somewhere  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood." 

"She  is  at ,  how  did  you  know?" 

"I  saw  her  on  your  arm.  I  am  glad  she  is  so  near; 
oh!  so  glad.     Bid  my  uncle  and  aunt  good-bye,  make 


382  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

some  excuse.  Go  to  your  sister  at  once.  She  loves  you. 
She  is  better  than  I  am,  if  you  will  but  see  us  as  we  really 
are.  Go  to  her  at  once,"  faltered  Lucy,  who  disliked 
Eve,  and  Eve  her. 

*'  I  will.  I  will.  I  have  thought  too  little  of  my  own 
flesh  and  blood.     Shall  I  go  now .?  " 

'*Yes,"  murmured  Lucy  softly,  trying  to  disarm  the 
fatal  word.  "Forget  me!  —  and  —  forgive  me!"  and, 
with  this  last  word  scarce  audible,  she  averted  her  face, 
and  held  out  her  hand  with  angelic  dignity,  modesty,  and 
pity. 

The  kind  words  and  the  gentle  action  brought  down 
the  stout  heart  that  had  looked  death  in  the  face  so 
often  without  flinching.  "Forgive  you,  sweet  angel," 
he  cried,  "I  pray  God  to  bless  you,  and  to  make  you  as 
happy  as  I  am  desolate  for  your  sake.  Oh!  you  show 
me  more  and  more  what  I  lose  this  day.  God  bless 
you!  God  bless "  and  David's  heart  filled  to  chok- 
ing, and  he  burst  out  sobbing  despairingly,  and  the  hot 
tears  ran  suddenly  from  his  eyes  over  her  hand,  as  he 
kissed,  and  kissed  it.  Then,  with  an  almost  savage 
feeling  of  shame  (for  these  were  not  eyes  that  were 
wont  to  weep),  he  uttered  one  cry  of  despair  and  ran 
away,  leaving  her  pale  and  panting  heavily. 

She  looked  piteously  at  her  hand,  wet  with  a  hero's 
tears,  and,  for  the  second  time  to-day,  her  own  began  to 
gush.  She  felt  a  need  of  being  alone.  She  wanted  to 
think  on  what  she  had  done.  She  would  hide  in  the 
garden.  She  ran  down  the  steps;  lo!  there  was  Mr. 
Hardie  coming  up  the  gravel  walk.  She  uttered  a  little 
cry  of  impatience,  and  dashed  impetuously  into  the  hot- 
house, driving  the  half-open  door  before  her  with  her 
person,  as  well  as  her  arm. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  383 

A  scream  of  terror  and  pain  issued  from  behind  it, 
with  a  crash  of  pottery.     Lucy  wheeled  round  at  the 
sound,  and  there  was  her  aunt,  flattened  against  the       f 
flower-frame.     Lucy  stood  transfixed. 

But  soon  her  look  of  surprise  gave  way  to  a  frown, 
ay !  and  a  sombre  one. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

The  ready-minded  lady  extricated  herself  from  the  pots, 
and  wriggled  out  of  the  moral  situation.  '*I  was  a 
listener,  dear,  an  unwilling  listener;  but  now  I  do  not 
regret  it.  How  nobly  you  behaved;"  and  with  this  she 
came  at  her  with  open  arms,  crying,  "My  own  dear 
niece." 

Her  own  dear  niece  recoiled  with  a  shiver,  and  put 
up  both  her  hands  as  a  shield. 

**Oh,  don't  touch  me,  please.  I  never  heard  of  a 
lady  listening!"  She  then  turned  her  back  on  her  aunt 
in  a  somewhat  uncourtier-like  manner,  and  darted  out 
of  the  place,  every  fibre  of  her  frame  strung  up  tight 
with  excitement.  She  felt  she  was  not  the  calm  dis- 
passionate being  of  yesterday,  and  hurried  to  her  own 
room,  and  locked  herself  in. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  remained  behind  in  a  state  of 
bitter  mortification,  and  breathing  fury  on  her  small 
scale.  But  what  could  she  do  ?  David  would  be  out 
of  her  reach  in  a  few  minutes,  and  Lucy  was  scarce 
vulnerable. 

In  the  absence  of  any  definite  spite,  she  thought  she 
could  not  go  wrong  in  thwarting  whatever  Lucy  wished, 
and  her  wish  had  been  that  David  should  go.  Besides, 
if  she  kept  him  in  the  house,  who  knows,  she  might 
pique  him  with  Lucy,  and  even  yet  turn  him  her  way. 
So  she  lay  in  wait  for  him  in  the  hall ;  he  soon  appeared 
with  his  bag  in  his  hand.  She  inquired,  with  great 
simplicity,  where  he  was  going  ?  he  told  her  he  was  going 

384 


LOVE  ME  LONG  385 

away.  She  remonstrated,  first  tenderly,  then  almost 
angrily.  "We  all  counted  on  you  to  play  the  violin. 
We  can't  dance  to  the  piano  alone." 

*'I  am  very  sorry,  but  I  have  got  my  orders." 

Then  this  subtle  lady  said  carelessly,  "Lucy  will  be 
au  desespoir.  She  will  get  no  dancing.  She  said  to 
me  just  now,  'Aunt,  do  try  and  persuade  Mr.  Dodd  to 
stay  over  the  ball.     We  shall  miss  him  so.'  " 

"When  did  she  say  that .?" 

"Just  this  minute.     Standing  at  the  door,  there." 

"Very  well,  then,  I'll  stay  over  the  ball."  And 
without  a  word  more  he  carried  his  bag  and  violin-case 
up  to  his  room  again.  Oh!  how  la  Bazalgette  hated 
him.  She  now  resigned  all  hope  of  flirting  with  him, 
and  promised  herself  the  pleasure  of  watching  him  and 
Lucy  together.  One  would  be  wretched,  and  the  other 
must  be  uncomfortable. 

Lucy  did  not  come  down  to  dinner;  she  was  lying 
down  with  a  headache.  She  even  sent  a  message  to 
Mrs.  Bazalgette,  to  know  whether  she  could  be  dis- 
pensed with  at  the  ball.  Answer,  "Impossible."  At 
half-past  eight  she  got  up,  put  on  her  costume,  took  it 
off  again,  and  dressed  in  white- watered  silk ;  her  assump- 
tion of  a  character  was  confined  to  wearing  a  little  crown, 
rising  to  a  peak  in  front.  Many  of  the  guests  had 
arrived  when  she  glided  into  the  room,  looking  every 
inch  a  queen.  David  was  dazzled  at  her,  and  awe- 
struck at  her  beauty  and  mien,  and  at  his  own 
presumption. 

Her  eye  fell  on  him.  She  gave  a  little  start,  but 
passed  on  without  a  word.  The  carpets  had  been 
taken  up,  and  the  dancing  began. 

Mrs.   Bazalgette   arranged   that   Lucy   and  David 


386  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

should  play  pianoforte  and  violin  until  some  lady  could 
be  found  to  take  her  part. 

I  incline  to  think  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  spiteful  as  morti- 
fied vanity  is  apt  to  be,  did  not  know  the  depth  of 
anguish  her  subtle  vengeance  inflicted  on  David  Dodd. 

He  was  pale  and  stern  with  the  bitter  struggle  for 
composure.  He  ground  his  teeth,  fixed  his  eyes  on  the 
music-book,  and  ploughed  the  merry  tunes  as  the  faint- 
ing ox  ploughs  the  furrow.  He  dared  not  look  at  Lucy, 
nor  did  he  speak  to  her  more  than  was  necessary  for 
what  they  were  doing;  nor  she  to  him.  She  was  vexed 
with  him  for  subjecting  himself  and  her  to  unnecessary 
pain,  and  in  the  eye  of  society,  her  divinity. 

Another  unhappy  one  was  Mr.  Fountain.  He  sat 
disconsolate  on  a  seat  all  alone.  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
fluttered  about  like  a  butterfly,  and  sparkled  like  a 
Chinese  firework. 

Two  young  ladies,  sisters,  went  to  the  piano,  to  give 
Miss  Fountain  an  opportunity  of  dancing.  She  danced 
quadrilles  with  four  or  five  gentlemen,  including  her 
special  admirers.  She  declined  to  waltz;  "I  have  a 
little  headache,  nothing  to  speak  of." 

She  then  sat  down  to  the  piano  again.  "I  can  play 
alone,  Mr.  Dodd ;  you  have  not  danced  at  all." 

"I  am  not  in  the  humour." 

"Very  well." 

This  time  they  played  some  of  the  tunes  they  had 
rehearsed  together  that  happy  evening,  and  David's 
lip  quivered. 

Lucy  eyed  him  unobserved. 

"Was  this  wise  ?  to  subject  yourself  to  this .?" 

"I  must  obey  orders,  whatever  it  costs  me,  'ri  turn 
ti  tum  ti  tum  ti  tum.'  " 


LOVE  ME  LONG  387 

"Who  ordered  you  to  neglect  my  advice?  *ri  turn 
turn  turn.'  " 

**  You  did,  *ri  turn  ti  turn  tiddy  iddy.'  " 

A  look  of  silent  disdain ;  *'  ri  turn,  ti  turn,  tiddy  iddy." 
(Ah,  perdona  for  relating  things  as  they  happen,  and 
not  as  your  grand  writers  pretend  they  happen.) 

Between  the  quadrilles  she  asked  an  explanation. 

"Your  aunt  met  me  with  my  bag  in  my  hand,  and 
told  me  you  wanted  me  to  play  to  the  company." 

When  he  said  this,  David  heard  a  sound  like  a  click 
of  a  trigger.  He  looked  up,  it  was  Lucy  clenching  her 
teeth  convulsively.  But  time  was  up:  the  woman  of 
the  world  must  go  on  like  the  prize-fighter:  the  couples 
were  waiting. 

"Ri  tum  ti  tum  ti  tum  ti  tum  tiddy  iddy."  For  all 
that  she  did  not  finish  the  tune.  In  the  middle  of  it, 
she  said  to  David:  "  'ri  tum  ti  tum,'  Can  you  get 
through  this  without  me  ?  *ri  tum.'  " 

"If  I  can  get  through  life  without  you,  I  can  surely 
get  through  this  twaddle;  *ri  tum  ti  tum  ti  tum  ti  tum 
tiddy  iddy.'  " 

Lucy  started  from  her  seat,  leaving  David  ploughing 
solo.  She  started  from  her  seat  and  stood  a  moment, 
looking  like  an  angel  stung  by  vipers.  Her  eye  went  all 
round  the  room  in  one  moment  in  search  of  some  one 
to  blast  on  a  small  scale.  It  surprised  Mr.  Hardie  and 
Mrs.  Bazalgette,  sitting  together  and  casting  ironical 
glances  piano-wards:  "So  she  has  been  betraying  to 
Mr.  Hardie  the  secret  she  gained  by  listening,"  thought 
Lucy.  The  pair  she  thought  were  probably  enjoying 
David's  mortification,  his  misery. 

Lucy  Fountain  walked  very  slowly  down  the  room 
to  this  couple.     She  looked  them  long  and  full  in  the 


388  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

face,  with  that  confronting  yet  overlooking  glance,  which 
women  of  the  world  can  command  on  great  occasions. 
It  fell,  and  pressed  on  them  both  like  lead,  they  could 
not  have  told  you  why.  They  looked  at  one  another 
ruefully  when  she  had  passed  them,  and  then  their  eyes 
followed  her.  They  saw  her  walk  straight  up  to  her 
uncle  and  sit  down  by  him  and  take  his  hand.  They 
exchanged  another  uneasy  look. 

** Uncle,"  said  Lucy,  speaking  very  quickly,  "you 
are  unhappy.  I  am  the  cause ;  I  am  come  to  say  that  I 
promise  you  not  to  marry  any  one  my  aunt  shall  propose 
to  me." 

"My  dear  girl,  then  you  won't  marry  that  shop- 
keeper,  there." 

**  What  need  of  names  ?  still  less  of  epithets.  I  will 
marry  no  friend  of  hers." 

"Ah!  now  you  are  my  brother's  daughter  again." 

"No!  I  love  you  no  better  than  I  did  this  morning; 
but  she "  (full  stop). 

Celestial  happiness  diffused  itself  over  old  Fountain's 
face,  and  Lucy  glided  back  to  the  piano  just  as  the 
quadrille  ended.  "Give  me  your  arm,  Mr.  Dodd," 
said  she  authoritatively.  She  took  his  arm,  and  made 
the  tour  of  the  room  leaning  on  him,  and  chatting  gaily. 

She  introduced  him  to  the  best  people,  and  contrived 
to  appear  to  the  whole  room  joyous  and  flattered,  lean- 
ing on  David's  arm. 

The  young  fellows  envied  him  so. 

Every  now  and  then  David  felt  her  noble  white  arm 
twitch  convulsively,  and  her  fingers  pinch  the  cloth  of 
his  sleeve,  where  it  was  loose. 

She  guided  him  to  the  supper-room.  It  was  empty. 
"Oblige  me  with  a  glass  of  water." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  389 

He  gave  it  her.     She  drank  it. 

**  Mr.  Dodd,  the  advice  I  gave  you  with  my  own  lips 
I  never  retracted.  My  aunt  imposed  upon  you.  It  was 
done  to  mortify  you.  It  has  failed,  as  you  may  have 
observed.  My  head  aches  so :  it  is  intolerable.  When 
they  ask  you  where  I  am,  say  I  am  unwell,  and  have 
retired  to  my  room.  I  shall  not  be  at  breakfast.  I 
Directly  after  breakfast  go  to  your  sister,  and  tell  her  / 
your  friend  Lucy  declined  you,  though  she  knows  your 
value,  and  would  not  let  you  be  mortified  by  nullities 
and  heartless  fools.  Good-bye,  Mr.  Dodd,  try  and 
believe  that  none  of  us  you  leave  in  this  house  are  worth 
remembering,  far  less  regretting." 

She  vanished  haughtily;  David  crept  back  to  the 
ball-room.  It  seemed  dark  by  comparison  now  she 
who  lent  it  lustre  was  gone.  He  stayed  a  few  minutes, 
then  heavy-hearted  to  bed. 

The  next  morning  he  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Bazal- 
gette,  the  only  one  who  was  up,  kissed  the  terrible  infant, 
who,  suddenly  remembering  his  many  virtues,  formally 
forgave  him  his  one  piece  of  injustice;  and,  as  he  came, 
so  he  went  away,  his  bag  on  his  shoulder,  and  his  violin- 
case  in  his  hand.  He  went  to  cousin  Mary,  and  asked 
for  Eve.  Cousin  Mary's  face  turned  red:  *'You  will  "j 
find  her  at  No.  80  in  this  street.  She  is  gone  into  lodg-  / 
ings."  The  fact  is,  the  cousins  had  had  a  tiff;  and  Eve 
had  left  the  house  that  moment. 

Oh,  my  heroines !  when  will  you  learn  to  be  faultless ! 

David  came  into  her  apartment;  he  smiled  sweetly, 
but  sadly.  **Well,  it  is  all  over.  I  have  offered,  and 
been  declined." 

At  seeing  him  so  quiet  and  resigned.  Eve  burst  out 
crying. 


390  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Don't  you  cry,  dear,"  said  David.  **It  is  best  so. 
It  is  almost  a  relief.  Anything  before  the  suspense  I 
was  enduring." 

Then  Eve,  recovering  her  spirits  by  the  help  of  anger, 
began  to  abuse  Lucy  for  a  cold-hearted  deceitful  girl; 
but  David  stopped  her  sternly. 

"Not  a  word  against  her,  not  a  word.  I  should  hate 
any  one  that  miscalled  her.  She  speaks  well  of  you, 
Eve,  why  need  you  speak  ill  of  her  ?  She  and  I  parted 
friends,  and  friends  let  us  be.  There  is  no  hate  can  lie 
alongside  love  in  a  true  heart.  No!  let  nobody  speak 
of  her  at  all  to  me.  I  sha'n't.  My  thoughts,  they  are 
my  own.  *Go  to  your  sister,'  said  she,  and  here  I  am; 
and  I  beg  your  pardon.  Eve,  for  neglecting  you  as  I 
have  of  late." 

"Oh,  never  mind  that,  David,  our  affection  will  out- 
last this  folly  many  a  long  year." 

"Please  God!  Your  hand  in  mine  Eve,  my  lass,  and 
let  us  talk  of  ourselves  and  mother;  the  time  is  short." 

They  sat  hand  in  hand ;  and  never  mentioned  Lucy's 
name  again,  and  strange  to  say,  it  was  David  who  con- 
soled Eve.  For  now  the  battle  was  lost,  her  spirit 
seemed  to  have  all  deserted  her,  and  she  kept  bursting 
out  crying  every  now  and  then  irrelevantly. 

It  was  three  in  the  afternoon,  David  was  sitting  by 
the  window,  and  Eve  packing  his  chest  in  the  same  room, 
not  to  be  out  of  his  sight  a  minute,  when  suddenly  he 
started  up,  and  cried,  "There  she  is,"  and  an  instinctive 
unreasonable  joy  illumined  his  face;  the  next  moment 
his  countenance  fell. 

The  carriage  passed  down  the  street. 

"I  remember  now,"  muttered  David,  "I  heard  she 


LOVE  ME  LONG  391 

was  to  go  sailing;  and  Mr.  Talboys  was  to  be  skipper  of 
the  boat.     Ah!  well." 

*'Well!  let  them  sail,  David.  It  is  not  your 
business." 

"That  it  is  not.  Eve,  nobody's  less  than  mine." 

"Eve,  there  is  plenty  of  wind  blowing  up  from  the 
Nor-East." 

"Is  there .?  I  am  afraid  that  will  bring  your  ship 
down  quick." 

"Yes!  but  it  is  not  that.  I  am  afraid  that  lubber 
won't  think  of  looking  to  windward." 

"Nonsense  about  the  wind;  it  is  a  beautiful  day. 
Come,  David,  it  is  no  use  fighting  against  nature.  Put 
on  your  hat,  then,  and  run  down  to  the  beach,  and  see 
the  last  of  her;  only,  for  my  sake,  don't  let  the  others 
see  you  to  jeer  you." 

"No!  no!" 

"And  mind  and  be  back  to  dinner  at  four;  I  have 
got  a  nice  roast  fowl  for  you." 

"Ay!  ay!" 

A  little  before  four  o'clock  a  sailor  brought  a  note 
from  David,  written  hastily  in  pencil.  It  was  sent  up 
to  Eve.     She  read  it,  and  clasped  her  hands  vehemently. 

"Oh,  David,  David!  She  was  born  to  be  your 
destruction." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Mr.  Fountain,  Miss  Fountain,  and  Mr.  Talboys 
started  to  go  on  the  boating-expedition;  as  they  were 
getting  into  the  boat,  Mr.  Fountain  felt  a  little  ill,  and 
begged  to  be  excused.  Mr.  Talboys  offered  to  return 
with  him.  He  declined:  "Have  your  little  sail.  I  will 
wait  at  the  inn  for  you." 

This  pantomime  had,  I  blush  to  say,  been  arranged 
beforehand.  Miss  Fountain,  we  may  be  sure,  saw 
through  it,  but  she  gave  no  sign.  A  lofty  impassibility 
marked  her  demeanour,  and  she  let  them  do  just  what 
they  liked  with  her. 

The  boat  was  launched,  the  foresail  set,  and  Foun- 
tain remained  on  shore,  in  anything  but  a  calm  and 
happy  state. 

But  friendships  like  these  are  not  free  from  dross; 
and  I  must  confess  that  among  the  feelings  which 
crossed  his  mind,  was  a  hope  that  Talboys  would  pop, 
and  be  refused,  as  he  had  been.  Why  should  he. 
Fountain,  monopolise  defeat.?  we  should  share  all 
things  with  a  friend. 

Meantime,  by  one  of  those  caprices  to  which  her  sex 
are  said  to  be  peculiarly  subject,  Lucy  seemed  to  have 
given  up  all  intention  of  carrying  out  her  plan  for  getting 
rid  of  Mr.  Talboys.  Instead  of  leading  him  on  to  his 
fate,  she  interposed  a  subtle  but  almost  impassable 
barrier  between  him  and  destruction;  her  manner  and 
deportment  were  of  a  nature  to  freeze  declarations  of 
love  upon  the  human  lip.     She  leaned  back  languidly 

392 


LOVE  ME  LONG  393 

and  imperially  on  the  luxurious  cushions,  and  listlessly 
eyed  the  sky  and  the  water,  and  ignored  with  perfect 
impartiality  all  the  living  creatures  in  the  boat. 

Mr.  Talboys  endeavoured  in  vain  to  draw  her  out 
of  this  languid  mood.  He  selected  an  interesting  sub- 
ject of  conversation  too  —  himself;  he  told  her  of  his 
feats,  yachting  in  the  Mediterranean.  He  did  not  tell 
her,  though,  that  his  yacht  was  sailed  by  the  master, 
and  not  by  him,  her  proprietor.  In  reply  to  all  this, 
Lucy  dropped  out  languid  monosyllables. 

At  last  Talboys  got  piqued,  and  clapped  on  sail. 

There  had  not  been  a  breath  of  air  until  half-an-hour 
before  they  started;  but  now  a  stiff  breeze  had  sprung 
up.  So  they  had  smooth  water  and  yet  plenty  of  wind, 
and  the  boat  cut  swiftly  through  the  bubbling  water. 

"She  walks  well,"  said  the  yachtsman. 

Lucy  smiled  a  gracious,  though  still  rather  too 
queenly,  assent.  I  think  the  motion  was  pleasing  her. 
Lively  motion  is  very  agreeable  to  her  sex. 

"This  is  a  very  fast  boat,"  said  Mr.  Talboys.  "I 
should  like  to  try  her  speed.  What  do  you  say,  Miss 
Fountain.?" 

"With  all  my  heart,"  said  Lucy,  in  a  tone  that 
expressed  utter  indifference. 

"Here  is  this  lateen-rigged  boat  creeping  down  on 
our  quarter.  We  will  stand  east  till  she  runs  down  to 
us,  and  then  we  will  run  by  her  and  challenge  her." 
Accordingly  Talboys  stood  east. 

But  he  did  not  get  his  race;  for,  somewhat  to  his 
surprise,  the  lateen-rigged  boat,  instead  of  holding  her 
course,  which  was  about  south-south-west,  bore  up 
directly  and  stood  east,  keeping  about  half  a  mile  to 
windward  of  Talbovs. 


394  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

This  puzzled  Talboys.  "They  are  afraid  to  try  it," 
said  he.  *'If  they  are  afraid  of  us  sailing  on  a  wind, 
they  would  not  have  much  chance  with  us  in  beating  to 
windward.  A  lugger  can  lie  two  points  nearer  the  wind 
than  a  schooner." 

All  this  science  was  lost  on  Lucy.  She  lay  back, 
languid  and  listless. 

Mr.  Talboys'  crew  consisted  of  a  man  and  a  boy. 
He  steered  the  boat  himself.  He  ordered  them  to  go 
about  and  sail  due  west.  It  was  no  sooner  done  than, 
lo  and  behold,  the  schooner  came  about  and  sailed  west, 
keeping  always  half  a  mile  to  windward. 

"That  boat  is  following,  us.  Miss  Fountain." 

"What  for.?"  inquired  she;  "is  it  my  uncle  coming 
after  us.?" 

"No;  I  see  no  one  aboard,  but  a  couple  of 
fishermen." 

They  are  not  fishermen,"  put  in  the  boy,  "they  are 
sailors;  coastguard  men  likely." 

"Besides,"  said  Mr.  Talboys,  "your  uncle  would 
run  down  to  us  at  once;  but  these  keep  waiting  on  us 
and  dogging  us  —  confound  their  impudence." 

"It  is  all  fancy,"  said  Lucy;  "run  away  as  fast 
as  you  can  that  way,"  and  she  pointed  down  wind, 
"and  you  will  see  nobody  will  take  the  trouble  to  run 
after  us." 

"  Hoist  the  mainsail,"  cried  Talboys. 

They  had  hitherto  been  sailing  under  the  foresail 
only.  In  another  minute  they  were  running  furiously 
before  the  wind  with  both  sails  set.  The  boat  yawed 
and  Lucy  began  to  be  nervous.  Per  contra  the  increased 
rapidity  of  motion  excited  her  agreeably.  The  lateen- 
schooner,  sailing  under  her  foresail  only,  luffed  directly 


LOVE  ME  LONG  395 

and  stood  on  in  the  lugger's  wake.  Lucy's  cheek 
burned,  but  she  said  nothing. 

** There,"  cried  Taiboys,  "now  do  you  believe  me.^ 
I  think  we  gain  on  her,  though." 

*' We  are  going  three  knots  to  her  two,  sir,"  said  the 
old  man;  '*but  it  is  by  her  good- will;  that  is  the  fastest 
boat  in  the  town,  sailing  on  a  wind.  At  beating  to 
windward  we  could  tackle  her  easy  enough,  but  not  at 
running  free;  ah!  there  goes  her  mainsel  up,  I  thought 
she  would  not  be  long  before  she  gave  us  that." 

**Oh,  how  beautiful!"  cried  Lucy;  **it  is  like  a 
falcon  or  an  eagle  sailing  down  on  us;  it  seems  all  wings. 
Why  don't  we  spread  wings  too,  and  fly  away.?" 

"You  see,  miss,"  explained  the  boatman,  "that 
schooner  works  her  sails  different  from  us,  going  down 
wind ;  she  can  carry  her  mainsel  on  one  side  of  the  craft 
and  her  foresel  on  the  other.  By  that  she  keeps  on  an 
even  keel,  and  what  is  more,  her  mainsel  does  not  take 
the  wind  out  of  her  foresel.  Bless  you,  that  little 
schooner  would  run  past  the  fastest  frigate  in  the  king's 
service  with  the  wind  dead  aft  as  we  have  got  it  now. 
She  is  coming  up  with  us  hand-over-head,  and  as  stiff 
on  her  keel  as  a  rock:  this  is  her  point  of  sailing:  beating 
to  windward  is  ourn.  Why,  if  they  ain't  reefing  the 
forseel  to  make  the  race  even;  and  there  go  three  reefs 
into  her  mainsel,  too."  The  old  boatman  scratched  his 
head. 

"Who  is  aboard  her,  Dick.?  they  are  strangers  to 
me." 

By  taking  in  so  many  reefs  the  lateen  had  lowered 
her  rate  of  sailing,  and  she  now  followed  in  their  wake, 
keeping  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  windward. 

Taiboys  lost  all  patience.     "Who  is  it,  I  wonder. 


896  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

that  has  the  insolence  to  dog  us  so?"  and  he  looked 
keenly  at  Miss  Fountain. 

She  did  not  think  herself  bound  to  reply,  and  gazed 
with  a  superior  air  of  indifference  on  the  sky  and  the 
water. 

"I  will  soon  know,"  said  Talboys. 

"What  does  it  matter.?"  inquired  Lucy.  ** Prob- 
ably somebody  who  is  wasting  his  time,  as  we  are." 

"The  road  we  are  on  is  as  free  to  him  as  to  us," 
suggested  the  old  boatman,  with  a  fine  sense  of  natural 
justice.  He  added,  "  But  if  you  will  take  my  advice,  sir, 
you  will  shorten  sail,  and  put  her  about  for  home;  it  is 
blowing  half  a  gale  of  wind,  and  the  sea  will  be  getting 
up,  and  that  won't  be  agreeable  for  the  young  lady." 

"Gale  of  wind.?  nonsense,"  said  Talboys;  "it  is  a 
fine  breeze." 

"Oh,  thank  you,  sir,"  said  Lucy  to  the  old  man; 
"I  love  the  sea,  but  I  should  not  like  to  be  out  in  a 
storm." 

The  old  boatman  grinned.  "  *  Storm'  is  a  word 
that  an  old  salt  reserves  for  one  of  those  hurricanes  that 
blow  turnips  flat,  and  teeth  down  your  throat;  you  can 
turn  round  and  lean  your  back  against  it  like  a  post ;  and 
a  carrion-crow  can't  make  for  the  next  parish,  but  he 
gets  fanned  into  another  country  —  that  is  a  storm." 

The  old  boatman  went  forward  grinning,  and  he  and 
his  boy  lowered  the  mainsail.  Then  Talboys  at  the  helm 
brought  the  boat's  head  round  to  the  wind.  She  came 
down  to  her  bearings  directly;  which  is  as  much  as  to 
say,  that  to  Lucy  she  seemed  to  be  upsetting.  Lucy 
gave  a  little  scream.  The  sail,  too,  made  a  report  like 
the  crack  of  a  pistol. 

"  Oh!  what  is  that.?"  cried  Lucy. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  397 

"Wind,  mum,"  replied  the  boatman  composedly. 

**  Wliat  is  that  purple  line  on  the  water,  sir,  out  there 
a  long  way  beyond  the  other  boat?" 

"Wind,  mam." 

"It  seems  to  move;  it  is  coming  this  way." 

"Ay,  mum;  that  is  a  thing  that  always  makes  to 
leeward,"  said  the  old  fellow,  grinning.  "I  '11  take  in  a 
couple  of  reefs  before  it  comes  to  us." 

Meantime  the  moment  the  lugger  lowered  her  main- 
sail, the  schooner,  divining,  as  it  appeared,  her  intention, 
did  the  same,  and  luffed  immediately,  and  was  on  the 
new  tack  first  of  the  two. 

"Ay,  my  lass,"  said  the  old  boatman,  "you  are 
smartly  handled,  no  doubt,  but  your  square  stern  and 
your  try-hanglar  sail  they  will  take  you  to  leeward  of  us 
pretty  soon,  do  what  you  can." 

The  event  seemed  to  justify  this  assertion;  the  little 
lugger  was  on  her  best  point  of  sailing,  and  in  about  ten 
minutes  the  distance  between  the  two  boats  was  slightly 
but  sensiblv  diminished.  The  lateen,  no  doubt,  ob- 
served  this,  for  she  began  to  play  the  game  of  short 
tacks,  and  hoisted  her  mainsail,  and  carried  on  till  she 
seemed  to  sail  on  her  beam  ends,  to  make  up,  as  far  as 
possible,  by  speed  and  smartness  for  what  she  lost  by 
rig  in  beating  to  windward. 

"They  go  about  quicker  than  we  do,"  said  Talboys. 

"Of  course  they  do,  they  have  not  got  to  dip  their 
sail,  as  we  have,  every  time  we  tack." 

This  was  the  true  solution,  but  Mr.  Talboys  did  not 
accept  it. 

"We  are  not  so  smart  as  we  ought  to  be.  Now,  you 
go  to  the  helm,  and  I  and  the  boy  will  dip  the  lug." 

The  old  boatman  took  the  helm  as  requested,  and 


398  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

gave  the  word  of  command  to  Mr.  Talboys.  "Stand 
hy  the  foretack." 

*'Yes,"  said  Talboys,  "here  I  am." 

"Let  go  the  foretack;"  and  contemporaneously  with 
the  order  he  brought  the  boat's  head  round. 

Now  this  operation  is  always  a  nice  one,  particularly 
in  these  small  luggers,  where  the  lug  has  to  be  dipped, 
that  is  to  say,  lowered  and  raised  again  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  mast.  For  the  lug  should  not  be  lowered  a 
moment  too  soon,  or  the  boat,  losing  her  way,  would  not 
come  round ;  nor  a  moment  too  late,  lest  the  sail,  owing 
to  the  new  position  the  boat  is  taking  under  the  influence 
of  the  ruddder,  should  receive  the  wind  whilst  between 
the  wind  and  the  mast,  and  so  the  craft  be  taken  aback 
—  nothing  can  well  happen  more  disastrous. 

Mr.  Talboys,  though  not  the  accomplished  sailor 
he  thought  himself,  knew  this  as  well  as  anybody,  and 
with  the  boy's  help  he  lowered  the  sail  at  the  right 
moment;  but  getting  his  head  awkwardly  in  the  way, 
the  yard  in  coming  down  hit  him  on  the  nose,  and  nearly 
knocked  him  on  to  his  beam  ends.  It  would  have  been 
better  if  it  had  done  so  quite,  instead  of  bounding  off 
his  nose  on  to  his  shoulder,  and  there  resting;  for,  as  it 
was,  the  descent  of  the  sail  being  thus  arrested  half  way, 
at  the  critical  moment,  and  the  boat's  head  coming 
round  all  the  same,  a  gust  of  wind  caught  the  sail  and 
wrapped  it  tight  round  the  mast  to  windward.  The 
boy  uttered  a  cry  of  terror  so  significant,  that  Lucy 
trembled  all  over,  and  by  an  uncontrollable  impulse 
leaned  despairingly  back  and  waved  her  white  hand- 
kerchief toward  the  antagonist  boat.  The  old  boat- 
man, with  an  oath,  darted  forward  with  an  agility  he 
could  not  have  shown  ashore. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  399 

The  effect  on  the  craft  was  alarming.  If  the  whole 
sail  had  been  thus  taken  aback,  she  would  have  gone 
down  like  lead ;  for,  as  it  was,  she  was  at  once  driven  on 
her  side,  and  at  the  same  time  driven  back  by  the  stern. 
The  whole  sea  seemed  to  rise  an  inch  above  her  gunwale ; 
the  water  poured  into  her  at  every  drive  the  gusts  of 
wind  gave  her,  and  the  only  wonder  seemed  why  the 
waves  did  not  run  clean  over  her. 

In  vain  the  old  boatman,  cursing  and  swearing, 
tugged  at  the  canvas  to  free  it  from  the  mast.  It  was 
wrapped  round  it  like  Deianira's  shirt,  and  with  as  fatal 
an  effect;  the  boat  was  filling,  and  as  this  brought  her 
lower  in  the  water,  and  robbed  her  of  much  of  her  buoy- 
ancy, and  as  the  fatal  cause  continued  immovable,  her 
destruction  was  certain. 

Every  cheek  was  blanched  with  fear  but  Lucy's, 
and  hers  were  red  as  fire,  ever  since  she  waved  her 
handkerchief ;  so  powerful  is  modesty  with  her  sex  — 
a  true  virgin  can  blush  in  death's  very  grasp. 

In  the  midst  of  this  agitation  and  terror  suddenly 
the  boat  was  hailed.  They  all  looked  up,  and  there 
was  the  lateen  coming  tearing  down  on  them  under 
all  her  canvas,  both  her  broad  sails  spread  out  to  the  | 
full,  one  on  each  side;  she  seemed  all  monstrous  wing.  ' 
The  lugger  being  now  nearly  head  to  wind,  she  came 
flying  down  on  her  weather-bow  as  if  to  run  past  her, 
then  lowering  her  foresail,  made  a  broad  sweep  and 
brought  up  suddenly  between  the  lugger  and  the  wind. 
As  her  foresail  fell,  a  sailor  bounded  over  it  on  to  the 
forecastle,  and  stood  there  with  one  foot  on  the  gunwale, 
active  as  Mercury,  eye  glowing,  and  a  rope  in  his  hand. 

*'  Stand  by  to  lower  your  mast,"  roared  this  sailor, 
in  a  voice  of  thunder,  to  the  boatman  of  the  lugger;  and 


I 


400  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  moment  the  schooner  came  up  into  the  wind  athwarl; 
the  lugger's  bows,  he  bounded  over  ten  feet  of  water  into 
her,  and  with  a  turn  of  the  hand  made  the  rope  fast  to 
her  thwart,  then  hauling  upon  it,  brought  the  lugger 
alongside  with  her  head  literally  under  the  schooner's 
wing. 

He  and  the  old  boatman  then  instantly  unstepped 
the  mast,  and  laid  it  down  in  the  boat,  sail  and  all.  It 
was  not  his  great  strength  that  enabled  him  to  do  this 
(a  dozen  of  him  could  not  have  done  this  while  the 
wind  pressed  on  the  mast) ;  it  was  his  address  in  taking 
all  the  wind  out  of  the  lug  by  means  of  the  schooner's 
mainsail.  The  old  man  never  said  a  word  till  the  work 
was  done,  then  he  remarked,  "That  was  clever  of  you." 

The  new-comer  took  no  notice  whatever.  '*Reef 
that  sail,  Jack,"  he  cried,  '*it  will  be  in  the  lady's  face 
by-and-by;  and  heave  your  bailer  in  here,  their  boat  is 
full  of  water." 

"Not  so  full  as  it  would  if  you  had  n't  brought  up 
alongside,"  said  the  old  boatman. 

"Do  you  want  to  frighten  the  lady.^"  replied  the 
sailor  in  his  driest  and  least  courtier-like  way. 

"I  am  not  frightened,  Mr.  Dodd,"  said  Lucy.  "I 
was,  but  I  am  not  now." 

"Come  and  help  me  get  the  water  out  of  her.  Jack. 
Stay,  Miss  Fountain  had  better  step  into  the  dry  boat 
meantime.  Now,  Jack,  look  alive;  lash  her  alongside 
aft." 

This  done,  the  two  sailors,  one  standing  on  the 
lugger's  gunwale,  one  on  the  schooner's,  handed  Miss 
Fountain  into  the  schooner,  and  gave  her  the  cushions 
out  of  the  lugger  to  sit  upon.  They  then  went  to  work 
with  a  will,  and  bailed  half  a  ton  of  water  out. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  401 

When  she  was  dry,  David  jumped  back  into  his  own 
boat.  "Now,  Miss  Fountain,  your  boat  is  dry,  but  the 
sea  is  getting  up,  and  I  think,  if  I  were  you,  I  would 
stay  where  you  are." 

*'I  mean  to,"  said  the  lady  calmly.  "Mr.  Talboys, 
would  you  mind  coming  into  this  boat  ?  we  shall  be  safer 
here,  it  —  it  is  larger." 

The  gentleman  thus  addressed  was  embarrassed 
between  two  mortifications,  one  on  each  side  of  him. 
If  he  came  into  David's  boat  he  would  be  second  fiddle, 
he  who  had  gone  out  of  port  first  fiddle.  If  he  stuck 
to  the  lugger,  Lucy  would  go  off  with  Dodd,  and  he 
would  look  like  a  fool  coming  ashore  without  her.  He 
hesitated. 

David  got  impatient.  "  Come,  sir,"  he  cried,  **  don't 
you  hear  the  lady  invite  you  .^  and  every  moment  is 
precious."     And  he  held  out  his  hand  to  him. 

Talboys  decided  on  taking  it,  and  he  even  unbent 
so  far  as  to  jump  vigorously;  so  vigorously  that  David 
pulling  him  with  force  at  the  same  moment,  he  came 
flying  into  the  schooner  like  a  cannon-ball,  and,  toppling 
over  on  his  heels,  went  down  on  his  seat  with  his  head 
resting  on  her  weather-gunwale,  and  his  legs  at  a  right 
angle  with  his  back. 

"That  is  one  way  of  boarding  a  craft,"  muttered 
David,  a  little  discontentedly;  then  to  the  old  boatman, 
"here,  fling  us  that  tarpauling.  I  say,  here  is  more 
wind  coming,  are  you  sure  you  can  work  that  lugger, 
you  two.^" 

"We  will  be  ashore  before  you  can,  now  there's 
nobody  to  bother  us,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"Then  cast  loose:  here  we  are  —  drifting  out  to 
sea." 


402  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

The  old  man  cast  the  rope  loose;  David  hauled  it 
on  board,^  and  the  schooner  shot  away  from  her  com- 
panion and  bore  up  north-north-west,  leaving  the  lugger 
rocking  from  side  to  side  on  the  rising  waves.  But  the 
next  minute  Lucy  saw  her  sail  rise,  and  she  bore  up  and 
stood  north-east. 

"Good-bye  to  you,  little  horror,"  said  Lucy. 

*' We  shall  fall  in  with  her  a  good  many  times  more 
before  we  make  the  land,"  said  David  Dodd. 

Lucy  inquired  what  he  meant;  but  he  had  fallen  to 
hauling  the  sheet  aft  and  making  the  sail  stand  flatter, 
and  did  not  answer  her.  Indeed,  he  seemed  much 
more  taken  up  with  Jack  than  with  her,  and,  above  all, 
entirely  absorbed  in  the  business  of  sailing  the  boat. 

She  was  a  little  mortified  at  this  behaviour,  and  held 
her  tongue.  Talboys  was  sulky,  and  held  his.  It  was 
a  curious  situation.  In  the  hurry  and  bustle  none  of 
the  parties  had  realised  it ;  but  now,  as  the  boat  breasted 
the  waves,  and  all  was  silent  on  board,  they  had  time  to 
review  their  position. 

Talboys  grew  gloomier  and  gloomier  at  the  poor 
figure  he  cut.  Lucy  kept  blushing  at  intervals  as  she 
reflected  on  the  obligation  she  had  laid  herself  under  to 
a  rejected  lover.  The  rejected  lover  alone  seemed  to 
mind  his  business  and  nothing  else;  and,  as  he  was 
almost  ludicrously  unconscious  that  he  was  doing  a 
chivalrous  action,  a  misfortune  to  which  those  who  do 
these  things  are  nearly  universally  liable,  he  did  not  gild 
the  transaction  with  a  single  graceful  speech,  and  per- 
mitted himself  to  be  more  occupied  with  the  sails  than 
with  rescued  beauty. 

Succeeding  events,  however,  explained,  and  in  some 
degree  excused  this  commonplace  behaviour. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  403 

The  next  time  they  tacked  some  spray  came  flying 
in,  and  wetted  all  hands.  Lucy  laughed,  The  lugger 
had  also  tacked,  and  the  two  boats  were  now  standing 
toward  each  other;  when  they  met,  the  lugger  had 
weathered  on  them  some  sixty  or  seventy  yards. 

A  furious  rain  now  came  on  almost  horizontally, 
and  the  sailors  arranged  the  tarpaulin  so  as  to  protect 
Mr.  Talboys  and  Miss  Fountain. 

*'But  you  will  be  wet  through  yourself,  Mr.  Dodd. 
Will  you  not  come  under  shelter,  too  ?'' 

"And  who  is  to  sail  the  boat.?"  He  added,  "I  am 
glad  to  see  the  rain.  I  hope  it  will  still  the  wind;  if  it 
does  n't — we  shall  have  to  try  something  else,  that  is  all." 

'*Pray,  when  do  you  undertake  to  land  us,  Mr. 
Dodd.?"  inquired  Mr.  Talboys  superciliously. 

**Well,  sir,  if  it  does  not  blow  any  harder,  about 
eight  bells." 

"Eight  bells.?  why,  that  means  midnight,"  ex- 
claimed Talboys. 

"Wind  and  tide  both  dead  against  us,"  replied 
David  coolly. 

"Oh!  Mr.  Dodd,  tell  me  the  truth:  is  there  any 
danger.?" 

"Danger.?  not  that  I  see;  but  it  is  very  uncomfort- 
able, and  unbecoming  for  you  to  be  beating  to  wind- 
ward against  the  tide  for  so  many  hours,  when  you 
ought  to  be  sitting  on  the  sofa  at  home.  However,  next 
time  you  run  out  of  port,  I  hope  those  that  take  charge 
of  you  will  look  to  the  almanac  for  the  tide,  and  look 
to  windward  for  the  weather.  Jack,  the  lugger  lies 
nearer  the  wind  than  we  do." 

"A  little,  sir." 

"Will  you  take  the  helm  a  minute,  Mr.  Talboys.? 


404  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

and,  Jack,  you  come  forward  and  unbend  this."  The 
two  sailors  put  their  heads  together  amidships,  and 
spoke  in  an  undertone.  '*The  wind  is  rising  with  the 
rain  instead  of  faUing.^" 

**  Seems  so,  sir." 

"What  do  you  think  yourself.?" 

"Well,  sir,  it  has  been  blowing  harder  and  harder 
ever  since  we  came  out,  and  very  steady." 

"It  will  turn  out  one  of  those  dry  nor-easters.  Jack." 

"I  shouldn't  wonder,  sir.  I  wish  she  was  cutter- 
rigged,  sir.  A  boat  has  no  business  to  be  any  other  rig 
but  cutter;  there  ought  to  be  an  act  o'  parliam't  against 
these  outlandish  rigs." 

"  I  don't  know.  I  have  seen  wonders  done  with  this 
lateen  rig  in  the  Pacific." 

"The  lugger  forereaches  on  us,  sir." 

"A  little;  but  for  all  that  I  am  glad  she  is  on  board 
our  craft.  We  have  got  more  beam,  and  if  it  comes  to 
the  worst,  we  can  run.  The  lugger  can't  with  her  sharp 
stern.     I  '11  go  to  the  helm." 

Just  as  David  was  stepping  aft  to  take  the  helm,  a 
wave  struck  the  boat  hard  on  the  weather  bow,  close 
to  the  gunwale,  and  sent  a  bucket  of  salt  water  flying 
all  over  him :  he  never  turned  his  head  even  —  took  no 
more  notice  of  it  than  a  rock  does  when  the  sea  spits  at 
it.  Lucy  shrieked  and  crouched  behind  the  tarpaulin. 
David  took  the  helm,  and  seeing  Talboys  white  said 
kindly,  "Why  don't  you  go  forward,  sir,  and  make  your- 
self snug  under  the  folksel  deck;  she  is  sure  to  wet  us 
abaft  before  we  can  make  the  land." 

No !  Talboys  resisted  his  inclination,  and  the  deadly 
nausea  that  was  creeping  over  him. 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  like  to  see  what  is  going  on,"  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  405 

(with  an  heroic  attempt  at  sea-slang),  "I  like  a  wet 
boat." 

They  now  fell  in  with  the  lugger  again,  lying  on  the  op- 
posite tack;  and  a  hundred  yards  at  least  to  windward. 

Just  before  they  crossed  her  wake,  David  sang  out 
to  Jack  — 

*'Our  masts;  are  they  sound.?" 

** Bran-new,  sir:  best  Norway  pine." 

"What  d'ye  think.?" 

**  Think  we  are  wasting  time  and  daylight." 

"Then  stand  hy  the  main-sheet." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Slack  the  main-sheet." 

"Ay,  ay!  sir." 

The  boat  instantly  fell  off  into  the  wind,  and  as  she 
went  round,  David  stood  up  in  the  stern  sheets  and 
waved  his  cap  to  the  men  on  board  the  lugger,  who  were 
watching  him.  The  old  man  was  seen  to  shake  his 
head  in  answer  to  the  signal,  and  point  to  his  lugsail 
standing  flat  as  a  board;  and  the  next  moment  they 
parted  company,  and  the  lateen  was  running  close- 
reefed  before  the  wind. 

Mr.  Talboys  was  sitting  collapsed  in  the  lethargy 
that  precedes  sea-sickness.  He  started  up.  "^Vhat 
are  you  doing.?"  he  shrieked. 

"Keep  quiet,  sir,  and  don't  bother,"  said  David, 
with  calm  sternness,  and  in  his  deepest  tones. 

"Pray,  don't  interfere  with  Mr.  Dodd,"  said  Lucy, 
"he  must  know  best." 

"You  don't  see  what  he  is  doing,  then,"  cried  Tal- 
boys wildly;  "the  madman  is  taking  us  out  to  sea." 

"Are  you  taking  us  out  to  sea,  Mr.  Dodd  ?"  inquired 
Lucy,  with  dismay. 


406  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"I  am  doing  according  to  my  judgment  of  tide  and 
wind,  and  the  abilities  of  the  craft  I  am  sailing,"  said 
David  firmly;  "and  on  board  my  own  craft  I  am  skip- 
per: and  skipper  I  will  be.  Go  forward,  sir,  if  you 
please,  and  don't  speak  except  to  obey  orders." 

Mr.  Talboys,  sick,  despondent,  and  sulky,  went 
gloomily  forward,  coiled  himself  up  under  the  forecastle 
deck,  and  was  silent  and  motionless. 

"Don't  send  me,"  cried  Lucy;  "for  I  will  not  go. 
Nothing  but  your  eye  keeps  up  my  courage.  I  don't 
mind  the  water,"  added  she  hastily,  and  a  little  timidly, 
anxious  to  meet  every  reason  that  could  be  urged  for 
imprisoning  her  in  the  forecastle  hold. 

"You  are  all  right  where  you  are,  miss,"  said  Jack 
cheerfully;  "  we  shan't  have  no  more  spray  come  aboard 
us.  It  won't  come  in  by  the  can  full  if  it  does  n't  come 
by  the  ton." 

"Will  you  belay  your  jaw.?"  roared  David,  in  a 
fury,  that  Lucy  did  not  comprehend  at  the  time.  "  What 
a  set  of  tarnation  babblers  in  one  little  boat." 

"I  won't  speak  any  more,  Mr.  Dodd.  I  won't 
speak." 

"Bless  your  heart,  it  is  n't  you  I  meant.  'T  would 
be  hard  if  a  lady  might  not  put  her  word  in.  But  a 
man  is  different.  I  do  love  to  see  a  man  belay  his  jaw, 
and  wait  for  orders,  and  then  do  his  duty.  Stand  by 
the  mainsel,  you!" 

"Ay,  ay!  sir." 

"Shake  out  a  couple  of  reefs." 

"Ay,  ay!  sir." 

And  the  lateen  spread  both  her  great  wings  like  an 
albatross,  and  leaped,  and  plunged,  and  flew,  before 
the  mighty  gale. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

"This  is  nice.  The  boat  does  not  upset  or  tumble  as 
it  did;  It  only  curtseys  and  plunges.     I  like  it." 

**The  sea  has  not  got  up  yet,  miss,"  said  Jack. 

"Hasn't  it.P  the  waves  seem  very  large." 

"Lord  love  you.  Wait  till  we  have  had  four  or  five 
hours  more  of  this." 

"Belay  your  jaw.  Jack." 

"Ay,  ay!  sir." 

"Why  so,  Mr.  Dodd.?"  objected  Lucy  gently.  "I 
am  not  so  weak  as  you  think  me.  Do  not  keep  the 
truth  from  me.  I  share  the  danger;  let  me  share  the 
sense  of  danger  too.     You  shall  not  blush  for  me." 

"Danger.?  there  is  not  a  grain  of  it,  unless  we  make 
danger  by  inattention  —  and  babbling." 

"You  will  not  do  that,"  said  Lucy. 

Equivoque  missed  fire. 

"Not  while  you  are  on  board,"  replied  David 
simply. 

Lucy  felt  inclined  to  give  him  her  hand.  She  had 
it  out  half  way;  but  he  had  lately  asked  her  to  marry 
him,  so  she  drew  it  back,  and  her  eyes  rested  on  the 
bottom  of  the  boat. 

The  wind  rose  higher.  The  masts  bent  so  that 
each  sail  had  every  possible  reef  taken  in.  Her  canvas 
thus  reduced,  she  scudded  as  fast  as  before,  such  was 
now  the  fury  of  the  gale.  The  sea  rose  so  that  the  boat 
seemed  to  mount  with  each  wave  as  high  as  the  second 
story  of  a  house,  and  go  down  again  to  the  cellar  at  every 

407 


408  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

plunge.  Talboys,  prostrated  by  sea-sickness  in  the 
forehold,  lay  curled,  but  motionless,  like  a  crooked  log, 
and  almost  as  indifferent  to  life  or  death.  Lucy,  pale 
but  firm,  put  no  more  questions  that  she  felt  would  not 
be  answered;  but  scanned  David  Dodd's  face  furtively 
but  closely.  The  result  was  encouraging  to  her.  His 
cheek  was  not  pale,  as  she  felt  her  own ;  on  the  contrary, 
it  was  slightly  flushed,  his  eye  bright  and  watchful,  but 
lion-like.  He  gave  a  word  or  two  of  command  to  Jack 
every  now  and  then,  very  sharply,  but  without  the 
slightest  shade  of  agitation,  and  Jack's  "ay,  ay!'* 
came    back   as    sharply,    but    cheerfully. 

The  principal  feature  she  discerned  in  both  sailors 
was  a  very  attentive  business-like  manner.  The  roman- 
tic air  with  which  heroes  face  danger  in  story  was  entirely 
absent;  and  so,  being  convinced  by  his  yarns  that  David 
was  a  hero,  she  inferred  that  their  situation  could  not  be 
dangerous,  but  as  David  himself  had  inferred,  merely 
one  in  which  watchfulness  was  requisite. 

The  sun  went  down  red  and  angry.  The  night  came 
on  dark  and  howling.  No  moon.  A  murky  sky  like 
a  black  bellying  curtain  above,  and  huge  ebony  waves, 
that  in  the  appalling  blackness  seemed  all  crested 
with  devouring  fire,  hemmed  in  the  tossing  boat,  and 
growled  and  snarled  and  raged  above,  below,  and 
around  her. 

Then,  in  that  awful  hour,  Lucy  Fountain  felt  her 
littleness,  and  the  littleness  of  man.  She  cowered  and 
trembled. 

The  sailors,  rough  but  tender  nurses,  wrapped 
shawls  round  her  one  above  the  other,  **To  make  her 
snug  for  the  night,"  they  said.     They  seemed  to  her  to 


LOVE  ME  LONG  409 

be  mocking  her.  "Snug?  Who  could  hope  to  outlive 
such  a  fearful  night?  and  what  did  it  matter  whether 
she  was  drowned  in  one  shawl  or  a  dozen  ?" 

David  being  amidships,  bailing  the  boat  out,  and 
Jack  at  the  helm,  she  took  the  opportunity,  and  got  very 
close  to  the  latter,  and  said  in  his  ear  — 

'*  Mr.  Jack,  are  we  in  danger  ?" 

'*Not  exactly  in  danger,  miss;  but  of  course  we  must 
mind  our  eye.  But  I  have  often  been  where  I  have  had 
to  mind  my  eye,  and  hope  to  be  again." 

**Mr.  Jack,"  said  Lucy,  shivering,  **what  is  our 
danger  ?  Tell  me  the  nature  of  it,  then  I  shall  not  be 
so  cowardly:  will  the  boat  break  ?" 

*'Lord  bless  you,  no." 

'*Will  it  upset?" 

"No  fear  of  that." 

"Will  not  the  sea  swallow  us  ?'* 

"No,  miss.  How  can  the  sea  swallow  us?  She 
rides  like  a  cork,  and  there  is  the  skipper  bailing  her  out 
to  make  her  lighter  still.  No,  I  '11  tell  you,  miss:  all 
we  have  got  to  mind  is  two  things,  we  must  not  let  her 
broach-to,  and  we  must  not  get  pooped." 

"But  why  mustn't  we?" 

''Why?     Because  we  must  n'f 

"But  I  mean,  what  would  be  the  consequence  of 
—  broaching  to?" 

Jack  opened  his  eyes  in  astonishment.  "Why,  the 
sea  would  run  over  her  quarter,  and  swamp  her." 

"Oh!  !  And  if  we  get  pooped?" 

"We  shall  go  to  Davy  Jones,  like  a  bullet." 

"Who  is  Davy  Jones?" 

"The  old  one,  you  know  —  down  below.  Least- 
ways you  won't  go  there,  miss,  you  will  go  aloft,  and, 


410  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

perhaps,   the  skipper;  but  Davy  will  have  me:  so  I 
won't  give  him  a  chance  if  I  can  help  it." 
Lucy  cried. 

"^^Tiere  are  we,  Mr.  Jack?" 

''British  Channel." 

*'I  know  that;  but  whereabouts.?" 

"Heaven  knows,  and  no  doubt  the  skipper,  he 
knows;  but  I  don't.  I  am  only  a  common  sailor. 
Shall  I   hail   the  skipper:     he  will   tell   you." 

*'No!  no!  no!     He  is  so  angry  if  we  speak." 

"He  won't  be  angry  if  you  speak  to  him,  miss," 
said  Jack,  with  a  sly  grin,  that  brought  a  faint  colour 
into  Lucy's  cheek;  "you  should  have  seen  him,  how 
anxious  he  was  about  you  before  we  came  alongside; 
and  the  moment  that  lubber  went  forward  to  dip  the 
lug,  says  he,  *Jack,  there  will  be  mischief;  up  mainsel 
and  run  down  to  them.  I  have  no  confidence  in  that 
tall  boy.'  (He  do  seem  a  long,  weedy,  useless  sort  of 
lubber.)  Lord  bless  you,  miss,  we  luffed,  and  were 
running  down  to  you  long  before  you  made  the  signal 
of  distress,  with  your  little  white  flag."  Lucy's  cheeks 
got  redder.  "No,  miss,  if  the  skipper  speaks  severe 
to  you.  Jack  Painter  is  blind  with  one  eye,  and  can't 
see  with  t'  other." 

Lucy's  cheeks  were  carnation. 

But  the  next  moment  they  were  white;  for  a  terrible 
event  interrupted  this  chat.  Two  huge  waves  rolled 
one  behind  the  other,  an  occurrence  which  luckily  is 
not  frequent;  the  boat,  descending  into  the  valley  of 
the  sea,  had  the  wind  taken  out  of  her  sails  by  the  high 
wave  that  was  coming;  her  sails  flapped,  she  lost  her 
speed,  and  as  she  rose  again,  the  second  wave  was  a 


LOVE  ME  LONG  411 

moment  too  quick  for  her,  and  its  combing  crest  caught 
her.  The  first  thing  Lucy  saw  was  Jack  running  from 
the  helm  with  a  loud  cry  of  fear,  followed  by  what  looked 
an  arch  of  fire,  but  sounded  like  a  lion  rushing,  growling 
on  its  prey,  and  directly  her  feet  and  ankles  were  in  a 
pool  of  water.  David  bounded  aft,  swearing  and 
splashing  through  it,  and  it  turned  into  sparks  of  white 
fire,  flying  this  way  and  that.  He  seized  the  helm  and 
discharged  a  loud  volley  of  curses  at  Jack. 

"Fling    out    ballast,  ye  d d  cowardly,  useless 

lubber,"  cried  he;  and  while  Jack,  who  had  recoiled 
into  his  normal  state  of  nerves  with  almost  ridiculous 
rapidity,  was  heaving  out  ballast,  David  discharged 
another  roUing  volley  at  him. 

*'Oh,  pray  don't!"  cried  Lucy,  trembling  like  an 
aspen-leaf.  **Oh,  think!  we  shall  soon  be  in  the 
presence  of  our  Maker  —  of  Him  whose  name  you " 

"Not  we,"  cried  David,  with  broad,  cheerful  in- 
credulity, **we  have  lots  more  mischief  to  do  —  that 
lubber  and  I.  And  if  he  thinks  he  is  going  there,  let 
him  end  like  a  man,  not  like  a  skulking  lubber,  running 
from  the  helm,  and  letting  the  craft  come  up  in 
the  wind." 

"  No !  no !  It  was  the  sea  he  ran  from.  Who  would 
not.?" 

"The  lubber!  If  it  had  been  a  tiger  or  a  bear,  I'd 
say  nothing,  but  what  is  the  use  of  trying  to  run  from 
the  sea.?  Should  have  stuck  to  his  post,  and  set  that 
thundering  back  of  his  up,  it 's  broad  enough,  and  kept 
the  sea  out  of  your  boots.  The  sea  indeed !  I  have  seen 
the  sea  come  on  board  me,  and  clear  the  deck  fore  and 
aft,  but  it  did  n't  come  in  the  shape  of  a  cupful  o'  water 
and  a  spoonful  o'  foam."     Here  David's  wrath  and 


412  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

contempt  were  interrupted  by  Jack  singing  waggishly 
at  his  work  — 

"Cease  —  rude  Boreas  —  blustering  —  rail-er!!" 

At  which  sly  hit,  David  was  pleased,  and  burst  into 
a  loud  boisterous  laugh. 

Lucy  put  her  hands  to  her  ears.  "  Oh,  don't !  don't ! 
this  is  worse  than  your  blasphemies:  laughing  on  the 
brink  of  eternity;  these  are  not  men;  they  are  devils." 

*'Do  you  hear  that,  Jack.^  come,  you  behave!" 
roared  David. 

A  faint  snarl  from  Talboys.  The  water  had  pene- 
trated him,  and  roused  him  from  a  state  of  sick  torpor: 
he  lay  in  a  tidy  little  pool  some  eight  inches  deep. 

The  boat  was  bailed  and  lightened;  but  Lucy's 
fears  were  not  set  at  rest.  What  was  to  hinder  the 
recurrence  of  the  same  danger,  and  with  more  fatal 
effect.?  She  timidly  asked  David's  permission  to  let 
her  keep  the  sea  out.  Instead  of  snubbing  her,  as  she 
expected,  David  consented  with  a  sort  of  paternal 
benevolence  tinged  with  incredulity.  She  then  de- 
veloped her  plan:  it  was,  that  David,  Jack,  and  she, 
should  sit  in  a  triangle,  and  hold  the  tarpaulin  out  to 
windward,  and  fence  the  ocean  out.  Jack  being  sum- 
moned aft  to  council,  burst  into  a  horse-laugh;  but 
David  checked  him. 

"There  is  more  in  it  than  you  see.  Jack;  more  than 
she  sees,  perhaps.  My  only  doubt  is  whether  it  is 
possible;  but  you  can  try." 

Lucy  and  Jack  then  tried  to  get  the  tarpaulin  out  to 
windward ;  instead  of  which  it  carried  them  to  leeward, 
by  the  force  of  the  wind.  The  mast  brought  them  up, 
or  heaven  knows  where  their  new  invention  would  have 


LOVE  ME  LONG  413 

carried  them.  With  infinite  difficulty  they  got  it  down 
and  kneeled  upon  it,  and  even  then  it  struggled.  But 
Lucy  would  not  be  defeated,  she  made  Jack  gather  it  up 
in  the  middle,  and  roll  it  first  to  the  right,  then  to  the 
left,  till  it  became  a  solid  roll  with  two  narrow  open 
edges.  They  then  carried  it  abaft,  and  lowered  it 
vertically  over  the  stern-port;  then  suddenly  turned  it 
round,  and  sat  down.  ** Crack!"  the  wind  opened  it, 
and  wrapped  it  round  the  boat  and  the  trio. 

''Hallo!"  cried  David,  ''it  is  foul  of  the  rudder," 
and  he  whipped  out  his  knife  and  made  a  slit  in  the 
stuff.     It  now  clung  like  a  blister. 

"There,  Mr.  Dodd,  will  not  that  keep  the  sea  out?" 
asked  Lucy  triumphantly. 

"At  any  rate,  it  may  help  to  keep  us  ahead  of  the 
sea.  Why,  Jack!  I  seem  to  feel  it  lift  her,  it  is  as  good 
as  a  mizzen." 

"But,  oh!  Mr.  Dodd,  there  is  another  danger.  We 
may  broach- to  .'^" 

"How  can  she  broach-to  when  I  am  at  the  helm; 
here  is  the  arm  that  won't  let  her  broach-to." 

"Then  I  feel  safe." 

"You  are  as  safe  as  on  your  own  sofa;  it  is  the  dis- 
comfort you  are  put  to  that  worries  me." 

"Don't  think  so  meanly  of  me,  Mr.  Dodd.  If  it 
was  not  for  my  cowardice,  I  should  enjoy  this  voyage 
far  more  than  the  luxurious  ease  you  think  so  dear  to 
me.     I  despise  it." 

"Mr.  Dodd,  now  I  am  no  longer  afraid,  I  am,  oh, 
so  sleepy!" 

"  No  wonder  —  go  to  sleep.  It  is  the  best  thing  you 
can  do." 


414  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Thank  you,  sir.  I  am  aware  my  conversation  is 
not  very  interesting."  Having  administered  this  sud- 
den bloodless  scratch,  to  show  that  at  sea,  or  ashore  in 
fair  weather  or  foul,  she  retained  her  sex,  Lucy  disposed 
herself  to  sleep. 

David,  steering  the  boat  with  his  left  hand,  arranged 
the  cushion  with  his  right.  She  settled  herself  to  sleep, 
for  an  irresistible  drowsiness  had  followed  the  many 
hours  of  excitement  she  had  gone  through.  Twice  the 
heavy  plunging  sea  brought  her  into  light  contact  with 
David ;  she  instantly  awoke,  and  apologised  to  him  with 
gentle  dismay,  for  taking  so  audacious  a  liberty  with 
that  great  man,  commander  of  the  vessel.  The  third 
time  she  said  nothing,  a  sure  sign  she  was  unconscious. 

Then  David,  for  fear  she  might  hurt  herself,  curled 
his  arm  around  her,  and  let  her  head  decline  upon  his 
shoulder;  her  bonnet  fell  off.  He  put  it  reverently  on 
the  other  side  the  helm.  The  air  now  cleared,  but  the 
gale  increased  rather  than  diminished.  And  now  the 
moon  rose  large  and  bright.  The  boat  and  masts  stood 
out  like  white  stonework  against  the  flint-coloured  sky, 
and  the  silver  light  played  on  Lucy's  face.  There  she 
lay,  all  unconscious  of  her  posture,  on  the  man's  shoul- 
der who  loved  her,  and  whom  she  had  refused;  her  head 
thrown  back  in  sweet  helplessness;  her  rich  hair 
streaming  over  David's  shoulder;  her  eyes  closed,  but 
the  long  lovely  lashes  meeting,  so  that  the  double  fringe 
was  as  speaking  as  most  eyes,  and  her  lips  half  open  in 
an  innocent  smile.  The  storm  was  no  storm  to  her  now. 
She  slept  the  sleep  of  childhood,  of  innocence,  and 
peace ;  and  David  gazed  and  gazed  on  her,  and  joy  and 
tenderness,  almost  more  than  human,  thrilled  through 
him ;  and  the  storm  was  no  storm  to  him  either.  He  forgot 


LOVE  ME  LONG  415 

the  past,  defied  the  future,  and,  in  the  delirium  of  his 
joy,  blessed  the  sea  and  the  wind,  and  wished  for  noth- 
ing, but,  instead  of  the  Channel,  a  boundless  ocean, 
and  to  sail  upon  it  thus  —  her  bosom  tenderly  grazing 
him,  and  her  lovely  head  resting  on  his  shoulder  —  for 
ever,  and  ever,  and  ever. 

Thus  they  sailed  on  two  hours  and  more,  and  Jack 
now  began  to  nod. 

All  of  a  sudden  Lucy  awoke,  and  opening  her  eyes, 
surprised  David  gazing  at  her  with  tenderness  un- 
speakable. Awaking  possessed  with  the  notion  that 
she  was  sleeping  at  home  on  a  bed  of  down,  she  looked 
dumbfoundered  an  instant;  but  David's  eyes  soon  sent 
the  blood  into  her  cheek.  Her  whole  supple  person 
turned  eel-like,  and  she  glided  quickly,  but  not  the  least 
brusquely,  from  him;  the  latter  might  have  seemed 
discourteous. 

"Oh!  Mr.  Dodd,"  she  cried,  "what  am  I  doing?" 

"You  have  been  getting  a  nice  sleep  —  thank 
Heaven." 

"Yes,  and  making  use  of  you,  even  in  my  sleep; 
but  we  all  impose  on  your  goodness." 

"Why  did  you  awake .^^  you  were  happy.  You 
felt  no  care;  and  I  was  happy  seeing  you  so." 

Lucy's  eyes  filled.  "Kind,  true  friend,"  she  mur- 
mured, "how  can  I  ever  thank  you,  as  I  ought  ?  I  little 
deserved  that  you  should  watch  over  my  safety  as  you 
have  done,  and,  alas!  risk  your  own.  Any  other  but 
you  would  have  borne  me  malice,  and  let  me  perish,  and 
said,  *  It  serves  her  right.'  " 

"Malice!  Miss  Lucy.  What  for,  in  Heaven's 
name.?" 


416  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

**For  —  for  the  affront  I  put  upon  you;  for  the  — 
the  honour  I  declined." 

'*Hate  cannot  lie  alongside  love  in  a  true  heart." 

"I  see  it  cannot  in  a  noble  one.  And  then  you  are 
so  generous.  You  have  never  once  recurred  to  that 
unfortunate  topic;  yet  you  have  gained  a  right  to 
request  me  —  to  reconsider.  Mr.  Dodd,  you  have 
saved   my   life!  !" 

"ViTiat,  do  you  praise  me  because  I  don't  take  a 
mean  advantage.^  That  would  not  be  behaving  like 
a  man." 

*'I  don't  know  that.  You  overrate  your  sex  — 
and  mine.  We  don't  deserve  such  generosity.  The 
proof  is,  we  reward  those  who  are  not  so  —  delicate." 

'*I  don't  trouble  my  head  about  your  sex.  They 
are  nothing  to  me,  and  never  will  be.  If  you  think  I 
have  done  my  duty  like  a  man,  and  as  much  like  a 
gentleman  as  my  homely  education  permits,  that  is 
enough  for  me,  and  I  shall  sail  for  China  as  happy  as 
anything  on  earth  can  make  me  now." 

Lucy  answered  this  by  crying  gently,  silently, 
tenderly. 

"Don't  ye  cry !     Have  I  said  something  to  vex  you  .^" 
"Oh,  no!  no!" 
"Are  you  alarmed  still .?" 
"Oh  no!  I  have  such  faith  in  you." 
"Then  go  to  sleep  again,  like  a  lamb." 
"I    will;     then    I    shall    not    tease    you    with    my 
conversation." 

"Now,  there  is  a  way  to  put  it." 

"Forgive  me!" 

"That  I  will,  if  you  will  take  some  repose.     There, 


LOVE  ME  LONG  417 

I  will  lash  you  to  my  arm  with  this  handkerchief,  then 
you  can  lie  the  other  way,  and  hold  on  by  the  hand- 
kerchief —  there." 

She  closed  her  eyes,  and  fell  apparently  to  sleep, 
but  really  to  thinking. 

Then  David  nudged  Jack,  and  waked  him. 
"Speak  low  now,  Jack!" 

"What  is  it,  sir.?" 

"Land  ahead." 

Jack  looked  out,  and  there  was  a  mountain  of  jet 
rising  out  of  the  sea,  and,  to  a  landsman's  eye,  within 
a  stone's  throw  of  them. 

"Is  it  the  French  coast,  sir.?  I  must  have  been 
asleep." 

"French  coast!  no,  Channel  Island  —  smallest  of 
the  lot." 

"Better  give  it  a  wide  berth,  sir.  We  shall  go 
smash  like  a  tea-cup  if  we  run  on  to  one  of  them  rocky 
islands." 

"Why,  Jack,"  said  David  reproachfully,  "am  I  the 
man  to  run  upon  a  lee-shore,  and  such  a  night  as  this .?" 

"Not  likely;  you  will  keep  her  head  for  Cherbourg 
or  St.  Malo,  sir;  it  is  our  only  chance." 

"It  is  not  our  only  chance,  nor  our  best.  We  have 
been  running  a  little  ahead  of  this  gale,  Jack;  there  is 
worse  in  store  for  us.  The  sea  is  rolling  mountains 
high  on  the  French  coast  this  morning,  I  know.  We 
are  like  enough  to  be  pooped  before  we  get  there,  or 
swamped  on  some  harbour-bar  at  last." 

"Well,  sir,  we  must  take  our  chance." 

"Take  our  chance.?  what,  with  heads  on  our  shoul- 
ders, and  an  angel  on  board  that  Heaven  has  given  us 
charge  of.     No!     I  sha'n't  take  my  chance.     I  shall  try 


418  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

all  I  know,  and  hang  on  to  life  by  my  eyelids.  Listen 
to  me.  'Knowledge  is  gold':  a  little  of  it  goes  a  long 
way.  I  don't  know  much,  myself,  but  I  do  know  the 
soundings  of  the  British  Channel.  I  have  made  them 
my  study.  On  the  south  side  of  this  rocky  point,  there 
is  forty  fathom  water  close  to  the  shore,  and  good 
anchorage  ground." 

*'Then  I  wish  we  could  jump  over  the  thundering 
island,  and  drop  on  to  the  lee-side  of  it;  but  as  we  can't, 
what's  the  use.?" 

*' We  may  be  able  to  round  the  point." 

*' There  will  be  an  awful  sea  running  off  that  point, 
sir." 

**Of  course  there  will.  I  mean  to  try  it,  for  all 
that." 

"So  be  it,  sir;  that  is  what  I  like  to  hear.  I  do  hate 
palaver.  Let  one  give  his  orders,  and  the  rest  obey 
them.     We  are  not  above  half  a  mile  from  it  now." 

"You  had  better  wake  the  landsman.  We  must 
have  a  third  hand  for  this." 

"No,"  said  a  woman's  voice,  sweet,  but  clear  and 
unwavering.     "  I  shall  be  the  third  hand." 

"Curse  it!"  cried  David,  "she  has  heard  us." 

"Every  word.  And  I  have  no  confidence  in  Mr. 
Talboys ;  and,  believe  me,  I  am  more  to  be  trusted  than 
he  is.  See,  my  cowardice  is  all  worn  out.  Do  but 
trust  me,  and  you  shall  find  I  want  neither  courage  nor 
intelligence." 

David  eyed  her  keenly,  and  full  in  the  face.  She 
met  his  glance  calmly,  with  her  fine  nostril  slightly 
expanding,  and  her  compressed  lip  curving  proudly. 

"It  is  all  right,  Jack.  It  is  not  a  flash  in  the  pan. 
She  is  as  steady  as  a  rock";  he  then  addressed  her 


LOVE  ME  LONG  419 

rapidly  and  business-like,  but  with  deference.  **You 
will  stand  by  the  helm  on  this  side,  and  the  moment  I 
run  forward,  you  will  take  the  helm  and  hold  it  in  this 
position.  That  will  require  all  your  strength.  Come, 
try  it  — •  well  done." 

"How  the  sea  struggles  with  me.  But  I  am  strong, 
you  see,"  cried  Lucy,  her  brow  flushed  with  the  battle. 

"Very  good!  you  are  strong,  and  what  is  better, 
resolute.  Now,  observe  me,  this  is  port,  this  is  star- 
board, and  this  is  amidships." 

"I  see;  but  how  am  I  to  know  which  to  do .?" 

"I  shall  give  you  the  word  of  command." 

"And  all  I  have  to  do  is  to  obey  it." 

"That  is  all.  But  you  will  find  it  enough,  because 
the  sea  will  seem  to  fight  with  you.  It  will  shake  the 
boat  to  make  you  let  go ;  and  will  perhaps  dash  in  your 
face  to  make  you  let  go." 

"Forewarned,  forearmed,  Mr.  Dodd.  I  will  not 
leave  go.  I  will  hold  on  by  my  eyelids  — -  sooner  than 
add  to  your  danger." 

"Jack,  she  is  on  fire;  she  gives  me  double  heart." 

"So  she  does  me.     She  makes  it  a  pleasure." 

They  were  now  near  enough  the  point  to  judge  what 
they  had  to  do,  and  the  appearance  of  the  sea  was  truly 
terrible;  the  waves  were  all  broken,  and  a  surge  of 
devouring  fire  seemed  to  rage  and  roar  round  the  point 
and  oppose  an  impassable  barrier  between  them  and 
the  inky  pool  beyond,  where  safety  lay  under  the  lee  of 
the  high  rocks. 

"I  don't  like  it,"  said  David.  "It  looks  to  me  like 
going  through  a  strip  of  hell-fire." 

"But  it  is  narrow,"  said  Lucy. 

"  That  is  our  chance ;  and  the  tide  is  coming  in.     We 


420  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

will  try  it.  She  will  drench  us,  but  I  don't  much  think 
she  will  swamp  us.     Are  you  ready,  all  hands  .^" 

"Oh!  please  wait  a  minute,  till  I  do  up  my  hair!" 

"Take  a  minute,  but  no  more." 

"There,  it  is  done.  Mr.  Dodd,  one  word:  if  all 
should  fail,  and  death  be  inevitable,  tell  me  so  —  just 
before  we  perish,  and  I  shall  have  something  to  say  to 
you.     Now,  I  am  ready." 

"Jump  forward.  Jack." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Stand  by  to  jibe  the  foresail." 

"Ay!  ay!  sir." 

"  See  our  sweeps  all  clear." 

"Ay." 

David  now  handled  the  main-sheet,  and  at  the  same 
time  looked  earnestly  at  Lucy,  who  met  his  eye  with  a 
look  of  eager  attention. 

"Starboard  a  little.  That  will  do.  Steady;  steady 
as  you  go."  As  the  boat  yielded  to  the  helm,  Jack 
gathered  in  on  the  sheet,  took  two  turns  round  the  cleat, 
and  eased  away  till  the  sail  drew  its  best ;  so  far  so  good. 
Both  sails  were  now  on  the  same  side  of  the  boat  —  the 
wind  on  her  port  quarter;  but  now  came  the  dangerous 
operation  of  coming  to  the  wind,  in  a  rough  and  broken 
sea,  among  the  eddies  of  wind  and  tide  so  prevalent  off 
headlands.  David,  with  the  main-sheet  in  his  right 
hand,  directed  Lucy  with  his  left,  as  well  as  his  voice. 

"Starboard  the  helm,  starboard  yet  —  now  meet 
her  —  so,"  and  as  she  rounded  to.  Jack  and  he  kept 
hauling  the  sheets  aft,  and  the  boat,  her  course  and  trim 
altered,  darted  among  the  breakers  like  a  brave  man 
attacking  danger.  After  the  first  plunge  she  went  up 
and  down  like  a  pickaxe,  coming  down  almost  where 

k 


LOVE  ME  LONG  421 

she  went  up;  but  she  held  her  course,  with  the  waves^ 
roaring  round  her  like  a  pack  of  hell-hounds. 

More  than  half  the  terrible  strip  was  passed.  *'  Star- 
board yet,"  cried  David;  and  she  headed  toward  the 
high  mainland,  under  whose  lee  was  calm  and  safety. 
Alas !  at  this  moment  a  snorter  of  a  sea  broke  under  her 
broadside,  and  hove  her  to  leeward  like  a  cork,  and  a 
tide  eddy  catching  her  under  the  counter,  she  came  to 
more  than  two  points,  and  her  canvas  thus  emptied, 
shook  enough  to  tear  the  masts  out  of  her  by  the  board. 

*'Port  your  helm,  PORT!  PORT!"  roared  David 
in  a  voice  like  the  roar  of  a  wounded  lion,  and  in  his 
anxiety  he  bounded  to  the  helm  himself;  but  Lucy 
obeyed  orders  at  half  a  word,  and  David,  seeing  this, 
sprang  forward  to  help  Jack  flatten  in  the  fore-sheet. 
The  boat,  which  all  through  answered  the  helm  beauti- 
fully, fell  off  the  moment  Lucy  ported  the  helm,  and 
thus  they  escaped  the  impending  and  terrible  danger  of 
her  making  stern-way. 

"Helm  amidships!"  and  all  drew  again:  the  black 
water  was  in  sight.  But  will  they  ever  reach  it.^  she 
tosses  like  a  cork.  Bang,  a  breaker  caught  her  bows, 
and  drenched  David  and  Jack  to  the  very  bone.  She 
quivered  like  an  aspen-leaf,  but  held  on. 

''Starboard  one  point,"  cried  David,  sitting  down, 
and  lifting  an  oar  out  from  the  boat;  but  just  as  Lucy, 
in  obeying  the  order,  leaned  a  little  over  the  lee  gunwale 
with  the  tiller,  a  breaker  broke  like  a  shell  upon  the 
boat's  broadside  abaft,  stove  in  her  upper  plank,  and 
filled  her  with  water;  some  flew  and  slapped  Lucy  in 
the  face  like  an  open  hand.  She  screamed,  but  clung 
to  the  gunwale,  and  griped  the  helm;  her  arm  seemed 
iron,  and  her  heart  was  steel.     TVTiile  she  clung  thus  to 


422  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

her  work  blinded  by  the  spray,  and  expecting  death,  she 
heard  oars  splash  into  the  water  and  mellow  stentorian 
voices  burst  out  singing. 

In  amazement  she  turned,  squeezed  the  brine  out  of 
her  eyes,  and  looked  all  round;  and,  lo,  the  boat  was  in 
a  trifling  bobble  of  a  sea,  and  close  astern  was  the  surge 
of  fire  raging,  and  growling,  and  blazing  in  vain;  and 
the  two  sailors  were  pulling  the  boat  with  superhuman 
strength  and  inspiration,  into  a  monster  mill-pool,  that 
now  lay  right  ahead,  black  as  ink  and  smooth  as  oil  — 
singing  loudly  as  they  rowed  — 

"Cheerily   oh   oh!  (pull)    cheerily   oh   oh!  (pull) 
To  port  we  go  oh  (pull),  to  port  we  go,  (pull).'* 

FLiVRE!  !  a  great  flaming  eye  opened  on  them  in 
the  centre  of  the  universal  blackness. 

"Look!  Look!"  cried  Lucy,  "a  fire  in  the 
mountain." 

It  was  the  lantern  of  a  French  sloop,  anchored  close 
to  the  shore.  The  crew  had  heard  the  sailors'  voices. 
At  sight  of  it  David  and  Jack  cheered  so  lustily,  that 
Talboys  crawled  out  of  the  water  and  glared  vaguely. 
The  sailors  pulled  under  the  sloop's  lee-quarter;  a 
couple  of  ropes  were  instantly  lowered,  the  lantern  held 
aloft,  ruby  heads  and  hands  clustered  at  the  gangway, 
and  in  another  minute  the  boat's  party  were  all  upon 
deck  under  a  hail-storm  of  French,  and  the  boat  fast 
to  her  stern. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

The  skipper  of  the  sloop,  hearing  a  commotion  on 
deck,  came  up,  and,  taking  off  his  cap,  made  Lucy  a 
bow  in  a  style  remote  from  an  EngHsh  sailor's.  She 
curtsied  to  him,  and,  to  his  surprise,  addressed  him  in 
Parisian  French.  When  he  learned  she  was  from 
England,  and  had  rounded  that  point  in  an  open  boat, 
he  was  astonished. 

^'  Diables  (T Anglais  I '^  said  he. 

The  good-natured  Frenchman  insisted  on  Lucy 
taking  sole  possession  of  his  cabin,  in  which  was  a  cheer- 
ful stove.  His  crew  were  just  as  kind  to  David,  Jack, 
and  Talboys.  This  latter  now  resumed  his  right  place  — 
at  the  head  of  mankind.  Being  the  only  one  who  could 
talk  French,  he  interpreted  for  his  companions.  He 
improved  upon  my  narrative  in  one  particular:  he  led 
the  Frenchmen  to  suppose  it  was  he  who  had  sailed  the 
boat  from  England,  and  weathered  the  point.  Who 
can  blame  him  ? 

Dry  clothes  were  found  them,  and  grog  and  beef. 

While  employed  on  the  victuals,  a  little  Anglo-Franc, 
aged  ten,  suddenly  rolled  out  of  a  hammock  and  offered 
aid  in  the  sweet  accents  of  their  native  tongue.  The 
sound  of  the  knives  and  forks  had  woke  the  urchin  out 
of  a  deep  sleep.  David  filled  the  hybrid,  and  then  sent 
him  to  Lucy's  cabin,  to  learn  how  she  was  getting  on. 
He  returned  and  told  them  the  lady  was  sitting  on  deck. 

"Dear  me,"  said  David,  "she  ought  to  be  in  her 
bed."     He  rose  and  went  on  deck,  followed  by  Mr. 

423 


424  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Talboys.  "Had  you  not  better  rest  yourself?"  said 
David. 

"No,  thank  you,  Mr.  Dodd;  I  had  a  delicious  sleep 
in  the  boat." 

Here  Talboys  put  in  his  word,  and  made  her  a  rueful 
apology  for  the  turn  his  pleasure-excursion  had  taken. 

She  stopped  him  most  graciously.  "On  the  con- 
trary, I  have  to  thank  you,  indirectly,  for  one  of  the 
pleasantest  evenings  I  ever  spent.  I  never  was  in  dan- 
ger before;  and  it  is  delightful.  I  was  a  little  frightened 
at  first,  but  it  soon  wore  off,  and  I  feel  I  should  shortly 
revel  in  it;  only  I  must  have  a  brave  man  near  just  to 
look  at,  then  I  gather  courage  from  his  eye.  Do  I  not, 
now,  Mr.  Dodd?" 

"Indeed  you  do,"  said  David,  simply  enough. 

Lucy  Fountain's  appearance  and  manner  bore  out 
her  words.  Talboys  was  white:  even  David  and  Jack 
showed  some  signs  of  a  night  of  watching  and  anxiety; 
but  the  young  lady's  cheek  was  red  and  fresh,  her  eye 
bright,  and  she  shone  with  an  inspired  and  sprightly 
ardour  that  was  never  seen,  or  never  observed  in  her, 
before.  They  had  found  the  way  to  put  her  blood  up 
after  all;  the  blood  of  the  Funteyns.  Such  are  thor- 
oughbreds —  they  rise  with  the  occasion :  snobs  descend 
as  the  situation  rises.  See  that  straight-necked,  small- 
nosed  mare  stepping  delicately  on  the  turnpike;  why, 
it  is  Languor  in  person,  picking  its  way  among  eggs. 
Now  the  hounds  cry,  and  the  horn  rings.  Put  her  at 
timber,  stream,  and  ploughed  field,  in  pleasing  rotation, 
and  see  her  now:  up  ears;  open  nostril;  nerves  steel; 
heart  invincible;  eye  of  fire,  foot  of  wind.  And,  ho! 
there!  what  stuck  in  that  last  arable,  dead  stiff  as 
the  Rosinantes  in  Trafalgar  Square,  all  but  one  limb. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  425 

which  goes  Hke  a  water-wagtail's.  Why,  by  Jove,  if  it 
is  n't  the  hero  of  the  turnpike  road;  the  gallant,  impa- 
tient, foaming,  champing,  space-devouring,  curveting 
cock-tail ! 

Out  of  consideration  for  her  male  companions' 
infirmities,  and  observing  that  they  were  ashamed  to 
take  needful  rest  while  she  remained  on  deck,  Lucy,  at 
length  retired  to  her  cabin. 

She  slept  a  good  many  hours,  and  was  awakened  at 
last  by  the  rocking  of  the  sloop.  The  wind  had  fallen 
greatly,  but  it  had  also  changed  to  due  east,  which 
brought  a  heavy  ground-swell  round  the  point  into  their 
little  haven.  Lucy  made  her  toilette,  and  came  on 
deck,  blooming  like  a  rose.  The  first  person  she  en- 
countered was  Mr.  Talboys.  She  saluted  him  cordially; 
she  then  inquired  for  their  companions. 

"Oh,  they  are  gone." 

"  Gone!     What  do  you  mean  .^" 

"Sailed  half-an-hour  ago.  Look,  there  is  the  boat 
coasting  the  island.  No,  not  that  way  —  westward; 
out  there,  just  weathering  that  point  —  don't  you  see .?" 

"Are  they  making  a  tour  of  the  island,  then.?" 

Here  the  little  Anglo-Franc  put  in  his  word.  "No, 
ma'amselle,  gone  to  catch  sheep  bound  for  ze  East 
Indeeze." 

"Gone!  gone!  for  good.?"  and  Lucy  turned  very 
pale.  The  next  moment  offended  pride  sent  the  blood 
rushing  to  her  brow.  "That  is  just  like  Mr.  Dodd; 
there  is  not  another  gentleman  in  the  world  would  have 
had  the  ill-breeding  to  go  off  like  that  to  India  without 
even  bidding  us  good-morning  or  good-bye.  Did  he 
bid  you  good-bye,  Mr.  Talboys .?" 

"No," 


426  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

'* There,  now;  it  is  insolent;  it  is  barbarous."  Her 
vexation  at  the  affront  David  had  put  on  Mr.  Talboys 
soon  passed  into  indignation.  "This  was  done  to 
insult  us;  to  humiliate  us.  A  noble  revenge.  You 
know  we  used  sometime  to  quiz  him  a  little  ashore, 
especially  you;  so  now  out  of  spite  he  has  saved  our 
lives,  and  then  turned  his  back  arrogantly  upon  us 
before  we  could  express  our  gratitude.  That  is  as 
much  as  to  say,  he  values  us  as  so  many  dogs  or  cats, 
flings  us  our  lives  haughtily,  and  then  turns  his  back 
disdainfully  on  us.  Life  is  not  worth  having  when 
given  so  insultingly." 

Talboys  soothed  the  offended  fair.  "I  really  don't 
think  he  meant  to  insult  us ;  but  you  know  Dodd :  he 
is  a  good-natured  fellow,  but  he  never  had  the  slightest 
pretension  to  good-breeding." 

"Don't  you  think,"  replied  the  lady,  "it  would  be 
as  well  to  leave  off  detracting  from  Mr.  Dodd  now  that 
he  has  just  saved  your  life  .^" 

Talboys  opened  his  eyes.     "Why,  you  began  it." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Talboys!  do  not  descend  to  evasion! 
What  I  say  goes  for  nothing;  Mr.  Dodd  and  I  are  fast 
friends,  and  nobody  will  ever  succeed  in  robbing  me  of 
my  esteem  for  him.  But  you  always  hated  him,  and 
you  seize  every  opportunity  of  showing  your  dislike. 
Poor  Mr.  Dodd!  !  He  has  too  many  great  virtues  not 
to  be  envied  —  and  hated." 

Talboys  stood  puzzled,  and  was  at  a  loss  which  way 
to  steer  his  tongue,  the  wind  being  so  shifty.  At  last 
he  observed  a  little  haughtily  that  he  never  made  Mr. 
Dodd  of  so  much  importance  as  all  this.  He  owned  he 
had  quizzed  him,  but  it  was  not  his  intention  to  quiz  him 
any  more;  "For  I  do  feel  under  considerable  obliga- 


LOVE  ME  LONG  427 

tions  to  Mr.  Dodd;  he  has  brought  us  safe  across  the 
Channel.  At  the  same  time  I  own  I  should  have  been 
more  grateful  if  he  had  beat  against  the  wind  and 
landed  us  on  our  native  coast ;  the  lugger  is  there  long 
before  this,  and  our  boat  was  the  best  of  the  two." 

"Absurd!"  replied  Lucy,  with  cold  hauteur.  "The 
lugger  had  a  sharp  stern,  but  ours  was  a  so.uare  stern, 
so  we  were  obliged  to  run;  if  we  had  heat,  we  should 
all  have  been  drowned  directly." 

Talboys  was  staggered  by  this  sudden  influx  of 
science;  but  he  held  his  ground.  "There  is  something 
in  that,"  said  he,  "but  still — a  —  a " 

"There,  Mr.  Talboys,"  said  the  young  lady,  sud- 
denly assuming  extreme  languor  after  delivering  a 
facer,  "pray  do  not  engage  me  in  an  argument.  I  do 
not  feel  equal  to  one,  especially  on  a  subject  that  has 
lost  its  interest.  Can  you  inform  me  when  this  vessel 
sails.?" 

"Not  till  to-morrow  morning." 

"Then  will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  borrow  me  that  little 
boat;  it  is  dangling  from  the  ship,  so  it  must  belong  to 
it.  I  wish  to  land  and  see  whether  he  has  cast  us  upon 
an  in-  or  an  uninhabited  island." 

The  sloop's  boat  speedily  landed  them  on  the  island, 
and  Lucy  proposed  to  cross  the  narrow  neck  of  land  and 
view  the  sea  they  had  crossed  in  the  dark.  This  was 
soon  done,  and  she  took  that  opportunity  of  looking 
about  for  the  lateen;  for  her  mind  had  taken  another 
turn,  and  she  doubted  the  report  that  David  was  gone 
to  intercept  the  East  Indiaman.  A  short  glance  con- 
vinced her  it  was  true.  About  seven  miles  to  leeward, 
her  course  west-north-west,  her  hull  every  now  and  then 
hidden  by  the  waves,  her  white  sails  spread  like  a  bird's, 


428  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

the  lateen  was  flying  through  the  foam  at  her  fastest 
rate.  Lucy  gazed  at  her  so  long  and  steadfastly  that 
Talboys  took  the  huff,  and  strolled  along  the  cliff. 

When  Lucy  turned  to  go  back,  she  found  the  French 
skipper  coming  towards  her  with  a  scrap  of  paper  in  his 
hand.  He  presented  it  with  a  low  bow;  she  took  it 
with  a  curtsey.  It  was  neatly  folded,  though  not  as 
letters  are  folded  ashore,  and  it  bore  her  address.  She 
opened  it  and  read  — 

"  It  was  not  worth  while  disturbing  your  rest  just  to  see  us  go  off. 

God  bless  you,  Miss  Lucy!     The  Frenchman  is  bound  for and  will 

take  you  safe  ;  and  mind  you  don't  step  ashore  till  the  plank  is  fast  — 
Yours  respectfully,  David  Dodd." 

That  was  all.  She  folded  it  back  thoughtfully  into 
the  original  folds,  and  turned  away.  WTien  she  had 
gone  but  a  few  steps  she  stopped  and  put  her  rejected 
lover's  little  note  into  her  bosom,  and  went  slowly  back 
to  the  boat  hanging  her  sweet  head,  and  crying  as  she 
went. 


CHAPTER  XX 

Mr.  Fountain  remained  in  the  town  waiting  for  his 
niece's  return.  Six  o'clock  came  —  no  boat.  Eight 
o'clock  —  no  boat;  and  a  heavy  gale  blowing.  He 
went  down  to  the  beach  in  great  anxiety;  and  when  he 
got  there  he  soon  found  it  was  shared  to  the  full  by 
many  human  beings.  There  were  little  knots  of  fisher- 
men and  sailors  discussing  it,  and  one  poor  woman, 
mother  and  wife,  stealing  from  group  to  group  and 
listening  anxiously  to  the  men's  conjectures.  But  the 
most  striking  feature  of  the  scene  was  an  old  white- 
haired  man,  who  walked  wildly  throwing  his  arms  about. 
The  others  rather  avoided  him,  but  Mr.  Fountain  felt 
he  had  a  right  to  speak  to  him,  so  he  came  to  him,  told 
him  "His  niece  was  on  board;  and  you  too,  I  fear,  have 
some  one  dear  to  you  in  danger." 

The  old  man  replied  sorrowfully  that  "his  lovely 
new  boat  was  in  danger,  in  such  danger  that  he  should 
never  see  her  again";  then  added,  going  suddenly  into 
a  fury,  that  as  to  the  two  rascally  blue- jackets  that  were 
on  board  her,  and  had  borrowed  her  of  his  wife  while  he 
was  out,  all  he  wished  was  that  they  had  been  swamped 
to  all  eternity  long  ago;  then  they  would  not  have  been 
able  to  come  and  swamp  his  dear  boat. 

Peppery  old  Fountain  cursed  him  for  a  heartless  old 
vagabond,  and  joined  the  group  whose  grief  and  anxiety 
were  less  ostentatious,  being  for  the  other  boat  that 
carried  their  own  flesh  and  blood.  But  all  night  long 
that  white-haired  old  man  paced  the  shore,  flinging  his 

429 


430  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

arms,  weeping  and  cursing  alternately,  for  his  dear 
schooner. 

Oh  holy  love  —  of  property !  how  venerable  you 
looked  in  the  moonlight,  with  your  white  hairs  stream- 
ing! How  well  you  imitated,  how  close  you  rivalled, 
the  holiest  effusions  of  the  heart,  and  not  for  the  first 
time  nor  the  last. 

**My  daughter!  —  my  ducats!  —  my  ducats!  —  my 
daughter!  &c." 

The  morning  broke;  no  sign  of  either  boat.  The 
wind  had  shifted  to  the  east,  and  greatly  abated.  The 
fishermen  began  to  have  hopes  for  their  comrades; 
these  communicated  themselves  to  Mr.  Fountain. 

It  was  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  this 
latter  observed  people  streaming  along  the  shore  to  a 
distant  point.  He  asked  a  coastguard  man,  whom  he 
observed  scanning  the  place  with  a  glass,  what  it  was. 

The  man  lowered  his  voice  and  said,  **Well,  sir  it 
will  be  something  coming  ashore,  by  the  way  the  folk 
are  running." 

Mr.  Fountain  got  a  carriage,  and,  urging  the  driver 
to  use  speed,  was  hastily  conveyed  by  the  road  to  a  part 
whence  a  few  steps  brought  him  down  to  the  sea;  he 
thrust  wildly  in  among  the  crowd. 

"Make  way,"  said  the  rough  fellows;  they  saw  he 
was  one  of  those  who  had  the  best  right  to  be  there. 

He  looked,  and  there,  scarce  fifty  yards  from  the 
shore,  was  the  lugger,  keel  uppermost,  drifting  in  with 
the  tide.  The  old  man  staggered  and  was  supported 
by  a  beachman. 

When  the  wreck  came  within  fifteen  yards  of  the 
shore,  she  hung,  owing  to  the  under  suction,  and  could 


LOVE  ME  LONG  431 

get  neither  way.  The  cries  of  the  women  broke  out 
afresh  at  this.  Then  half-a-dozen  stout  fellows  swam 
in  with  ropes,  and  with  some  difficulty  righted  her,  and 
in  another  minute  she  was  hauled  ashore. 

The  crowd  rushed  upon  her  —  she  was  empty !  not 
an  oar,  not  a  boat-hook  —  nothing.  But  jammed  in 
between  the  tiller  and  the  boat  they  found  a  purple  veil. 
The  discovery  was  announced  loudly  by  one  of  the 
females;  but  the  consequent  outcry  was  instantly  hushed 
by  the  men,  and  the  oldest  fisherman  there  took  it,  and, 
in  a  sudden  dead  and  solemn  silence,  gave  it,  with  a 
world  of  subdued  meaning,  to  Mr.  Fountain. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

Mr.  Fountain's  grief  was  violent;  the  more  so  perhaps 
that  it  was  not  pure  sorrow,  but  heated  with  anger  and 
despair.  He  had  not  only  lost  the  creature  he  loved 
better  than  any  one  else  —  except  himself;  but  all  his 
plans,  and  all  his  ambition,  were  upset  for  ever.  I  am 
sorry  to  say  there  were  moments  when  he  felt  indignant 
with  Heaven,  and  accused  its  justice.  At  other  times 
the  virtues  of  her  he  had  lost  came  to  his  recollection, 
and  he  wept  genuine  tears.  Now  she  was  dead  he  asked 
himself  a  question  that  is  sometimes  reserved  for  that 
occasion,  and  then  asked  with  bitter  regret  and  idle 
remorse  at  its  postponement,  *'What  can  I  do  to  show 
my  love  and  respect  for  her.^"  The  poor  old  fellow 
could  think  of  nothing  now,  but  to  try  and  recover  her 
body  from  the  sea,  and  to  record  her  virtues  on  her 
tomb.  He  employed  six  men  to  watch  the  coast  for  her 
along  a  space  of  twelve  miles,  and  he  went  to  a  marble- 
cutter  and  ordered  a  block  of  beautiful  white  marble.  He 
drew  up  the  record  of  her  virtues  himself,  and  spelt  her 
"Fontaine,"  and  so  settled  that  question  by  brute  force. 
Oh,  you  may  giggle;  but  men  are  not  most  sincere 
when  they  are  most  reasonable,  nor  most  reasonable 
when  most  sincere.  When  a  man's  heart  is  in  a  thing 
it  is  in  it  —  wise  or  nonsensical,  it  is  all  one ;  so  it  is  no 
use  talking. 

I  lack  words  to  describe  the  gloom  that  fell  on  Mr. 
Bazalgette's  home  when  the  sad  tidings  reached  it. 
And  indeed  it  would  be  trifling  with  my  reader  to  hang 

43£ 


LOVE  ME  LONG  433 

many  more  pages  with  black  when  he  and  I  both  know 
Lucy  Fountain  is  alive  all  the  time. 

Meantime  the  French  sloop  lay  at  her  anchor,  and 
Lucy  fretted  with  impatience.  At  noon  the  next  day 
she  sailed,  and,  being  a  slow  vessel,  did  not  anchor  off 

port  of till  daybreak  the  day  after.     Then  she  had 

to  wait  for  the  tide,  and  it  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock 
when  Lucy  landed.  She  went  immediately  to  the  prin- 
cipal inn  to  get  a  conveyance.  On  the  road,  whom 
should  she  meet  but  Mr.  Hardie.  He  gave  a  joyful  start 
at  sight  of  her,  and,  with  more  heart  than  she  could 
have  expected,  welcomed  her  to  life  again.  From  him 
she  learned  all  the  proofs  of  her  death.  This  made 
her  more  anxious  to  fly  to  her  aunt's  house  at  once  and 
undeceive  her. 

Mr.  Hardie  would  not  let  her  hire  a  carriage;  he 
would  drive  her  over  in  half  the  time.  He  beckoned 
his  servant,  who  was  standing  at  the  inn-door,  and 
ordered  it  immediately.  "Meantime,  Miss  Fountain, 
if  you  will  take  my  arm,  I  will  show  you  something  that 
I  think  will  amuse  you;  though  we  have  found  it  any- 
thing but  amusing,  as  you  may  well  suppose."  Lucy 
took  his  arm  somewhat  timidly,  and  he  walked  her  to 
the  marble-cutter's  shop.  **Look  there,"  said  he. 
Lucy  looked,  and  there  was  an  unfinished  slab  on  which 
she  read  these  words  — 

&acreti  to  tie  9^emots 

OF 

LUCY   FONTAINE, 

WHO    WAS    DROWNED    AT    SEA, 
ON  THE    10th    SEPT.,    18 

As  her  beauty  endeared  her  to  all  eyes. 
So  her  modesty,  piety,  docilit 


434  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

At  this  point  in  her  moral  virtues  the  chisel  had 
stopped.  Eleven  o'clock  struck,  and  the  chisel  went 
for  its  beer.  For  your  English  workman  would  leave 
the  d  in  *'God"  half  finished  when  strikes  the  hour  of 
beer. 

The  fact  is,  that  the  shopkeeper  had  newly  set  up, 
was  proud  of  the  commission,  and  whenever  the  chisel 
left  off  he  whipped  into  the  workshop  and  brought  the 
slab  out,  pro  tern.,  into  his  window,  for  an  advertisement. 

Hardie  pointed  it  out  to  Lucy  with  a  chuckle.  Lucy 
turned  pale,  and  put  her  hand  to  her  heart.  Hardie 
saw  his  mistake  too  late,  and  muttered  excuses. 

Lucy  gave  a  little  gasp  and  stopped  him.  "Pray, 
say  no  more  —  it  is  my  fault ;  if  people  will  feign  death 
they  must  expect  these  little  tributes.  My  uncle  has 
lost  no  time."  And  two  unreasonable  tears  swelled  to 
her  eyes,  and  trickled  one  after  another  down  her  cheeks ; 
then  she  turned  her  back  quickly  on  the  thing,  and  Mr. 
Hardie  felt  her  arm  tremble.  *'I  think,  Mr.  Hardie," 
said  she  presently,  with  marked  courtesy,  **I  should, 
under  the  circumstances,  prefer  to  go  home  alone.  My 
aunt's  nerves  are  sensitive,  and  I  must  think  of  the  best 
way  of  breaking  to  her  the  news  that  I  am  alive." 

"It  would  be  best.  Miss  Fountain;  and,  to  tell  the 
truth,  I  feel  myself  unworthy  to  accompany  you  after 
being  so  maladroit  as  to  give  you  pain  in  thinking  to 
amuse  you." 

**Oh,  Mr.  Hardie,"  said  Lucy,  growing  more  and 
more  courteous,"  you  are  not  to  be  called  to  account  for 
my  weakness;  that  would  be  unjust.  I  shall  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you  at  dinner .?" 

"Certainly,  since  you  permit  me." 

He  put  Lucy  into  the  carriage  and  off  she  drove. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  435 

"Come,"  thought  Mr.  Hardie,  "I  have  had  an  escape; 
what  a  stupid  blunder  for  me  to  make !  She  is  not  angry, 
though,  so  it  does  not  matter.     She  asked  me  to  dinner." 

Said  Lucy  to  herself,  "The  man  is  a  fool.  Poor 
Mr.  Dodd !  he  would  not  have  shown  me  my  tombstone 
—  to  amuse  me."  And  she  dismissed  the  subject  from 
her  mind. 

She  sent  away  the  carriage  and  entered  Mr.  Bazal- 
gette's  house  on  foot.  After  some  consideration  she 
determined  to  employ  Jane,  a  girl  of  some  tact,  to  break 
her  existence  to  her  aunt.  She  glided  into  the  drawing- 
room  unobserved,  fully  expecting  to  find  Jane  at  work 
there  for  Mrs.  Bazalgette.  But  the  room  was  empty. 
While  she  hesitated  what  to  do  next,  the  handle  of  the 
door  was  turned,  and  she  had  only  just  time  to  dart 
behind  a  heavy  window-curtain  when  it  opened  and 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  walked  slowly  and  silently  in,  followed 
by  a  woman.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  seated  herself  and 
sighed  deeply.  Her  companion  kept  a  respectful 
silence.  After  a  considerable  pause  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
said  a  few  words  in  a  voice  so  thoroughly  subdued  and 
solemn,  and  every  now  and  then  so  stifled,  that  Lucy's 
heart  yearned  for  her,  and  nothing  but  the  fear  of 
frightening  her  aunt  into  an  hysterical  fit  kept  her  from 
flying  into  her  arms. 

"I  need  not  tell  you,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  "why 
I  sent  for  you:  you  know  the  sad  bereavement  that 
has  fallen  on  me;  but  you  cannot  know  all  I  have  lost 
in  her.  Nobody  can  tell  what  she  was  to  all  of  us,  but 
most  of  all  to  me.  I  was  her  darling,  and  she  was  mine." 
Here  tears  choked  Mrs.  Bazalgette's  words  for  a  while. 
Recovering  herself  she  paid  a  tribute  to  the  character  of 
the  deceased.     *'It   was  a  soul   without  one  grain  of 


436  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

selfishness:  all  her  thoughts  were  for  others,  not  one 
for  herself.  She  loved  us  all.  Indeed  she  loved  some 
that  were  hardly  worthy  of  so  pure  a  creature's  love; 
but  the  reason  waj  she  had  no  eye  for  the  faults  of  her 
friends;  she  pictured  them  like  herself,  and  loved  her 
own  sweet  image  in  them.  ^j4^^  such  a  temper!  and  so 
free  from  guile.  I  may  truly  say  her  mind  was  as  lovely 
as  her  person." 

*'She  was  indeed  a  sweet  young  lady,"  sighed  the 
woman. 

"She  was  an  angel,  Baldwin,  an  angel,  sent  to  bear 
us  company  a  little  while,  and  now  she  is  a  saint  in 
heaven." 

"Ah,  ma'am!  the  best  goes  first,  that  is  an  old 
saying." 

"  So  I  have  heard;  but  my  niece  was  as  healthy  as  she 
was  lovely  and  good.  Everything  promised  long  life. 
I  hoped  she  would  have  closed  my  eyes.  In  the  bloom 
of  health  one  day,  and  the  next  lying  cold,  stark,  and 
drenched!  !  Oh,  how  terrible!  oh,  my  poor  Lucy! 
oh!  oh!  oh!" 

"In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,  ma'am.  I 
am  sure  it  is  a  warning  to  me,  ma'am,  as  well  as  to  my 
betters." 

"It  is  indeed,  Baldwin,  a  warning  to  all  of  us  who 
have  lived  too  much  for  vanities,  to  think  of  this  sweet 
flower,  snatched  in  a  moment  from  our  bosoms  and  from 
the  world;  we  ought  to  think  of  it  on  our  knees,  and 
remember  our  own  latter  end.  That  last  skirt  you  sent 
me  was  rather  scrimped,  my  poor  Baldwin." 

"Was  it,  ma'am.?" 

"Oh,  it  does  not  matter;  I  shall  never  wear  it  now, 
and,  under  such  a  blow  as  this,  I  am  in  no  humour  to 


LOVE  ME  LONG  437 

find  fault.  Indeed,  with  my  grief  I  neglect  my  house- 
hold, and  my  very  children.  I  forget  everything; 
what  did  I  send  for  you  for .?"  and  she  looked  with  lack- 
lustre eyes  full  in  Mrs.  Baldwin's  face. 

'*  Jane  did  not  say,  ma'am,  but  I  am  at  your  orders." 

**Oh,  of  course:  I  am  distracted.  It  was  to  pay  the 
last  tribute  of  respect  to  her  dear  memory.  Ah,  Bald- 
win, often  and  often  the  black  dress  is  all,  but  here  the 
heart  mourns  beyond  the  power  of  grief  to  express  by 
any  outward  trappings.  No  matter;  the  world,  the 
shallow  world,  respects  these  signs  of  woe,  and  let  mine 
be  the  deepest  mourning  ever  worn,  and  the  richest. 
And  out  of  that  mourning  I  shall  never  go  whilst  I  live." 

"No,  ma'am,"  said  Baldwin  soothingly. 

''Do  you  doubt  me.^"  asked  the  lady,  with  a  touch 
of  sharpness  that  did  not  seem  called  for  by  Baldwin's 
humble  acquiescence. 

"Oh  no,  ma'am;  it  is  a  very  natural  thought  under 
the  present  affliction,  and  most  becoming  the  sad 
occasion.  Well,  ma'am,  the  deepest  mourning,  if  you 
please,  I  should  say  cashmere  and  crape." 

"Yes,  that  would  be  deep.  Oh!  Baldwin,  it  is  her 
violent  death  that  kills  me.     Well  .^" 

"Cashmere  and  crape,  ma'am,  and  with  nothing 
white  about  the  neck  and  arms." 

"Yes;  oh,  yes;  but  will  not  that  be  rather 
unbecoming.^" 

"Well,  ma'am  — "  and  Baldwin  hesitated. 

"I  hardly  see  how  I  could  wear  that  —  it  makes  one 
look  so  old.  Now,  don't  you  think  black  glace  silk 
and  trimmed  with  love-ribbon,  black,  of  course,  but 
scalloped.^" 

"That  would  be  very  rich  indeed,  ma'am,  and  very 


438  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

becoming  to  you ;  but  being  so  near  and  dear  —  it 
would  not  be  so  deep  as  you  are  desirous  of." 

"Why,  Baldwin,  you  don't  attend  to  what  I  say.  I 
told  you  I  was  never  going  out  of  mourning  again;  so 
what  is  the  use  of  your  proposing  anything  to  me  that 
I  can't  wear  all  my  life.?  Now,  tell  me,  can  I  always 
wear  cashmere  and  crape  .f^" 

**Oh  no,  ma'am;  that  is  out  of  the  question;  and, 
if  it  is  for  a  permanency,  I  don't  see  how  we  could 
improve  on  glace  silk,  with  crape,  and  love-ribbons. 
Would  you  like  the  body  trimmed  with  jet,  ma'am .?" 

*'Oh,  don't  ask  me;  I  don't  know.  If  my  darling 
had  only  died  comfortably  in  her  bed,  then  we  could 
have  laid  out  her  sweet  remains  and  dressed  them  for 
her  virgin  tomb." 

*'It  would  have  been  a  satisfaction,  ma'am." 

*' A  sad  one,  at  the  best;  but  now  the  very  earth  per- 
haps will  never  receive  her.  Oh,  yes,  anything  you 
like,  the  body  trimmed  with  jet  if  you  wish  it,  and,  let 
me  see,  a  gauze  bodice,  goffered,  fastened  to  the  throat. 
That  is  all,  I  think;  the  sleeves  confined  at  the  wrist 
just  enough  not  to  expose  the  arm,  and  yet  look  light 
—  you  understand." 

"Yes,  ma'am." 

"She  kissed  me  just  before  she  went  on  that  fatal 
excursion,  Baldwin;  she  will  never  kiss  me  again;  oh! 
oh!  You  must  call  on  Dejazet  for  me,  and  bespeak  me  a 
bonnet  to  match ;  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  I  can  run  about 
after  her  trumpery  at  such  a  time;  besides,  it  is  not 
usual." 

"Indeed,  ma'am,  you  are  in  no  state  for  it;  I  will 
undertake  any  purchases  you  may  require." 

"Thank  you,  my  good  Baldwin,  you  are  a  good. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  439 

kind,  feeling,  useful  soul.  Oh,  Baldwin,  if  it  had 
pleased  Heaven  to  take  her  by  disease,  it  would  have 
been  bad  enough  to  lose  her.  But  to  be  drowned!  her 
clothes  all  wetted  through  and  through;  her  poor  hair 
drenched  too ;  and  then  the  water  is  so  cold  at  this  time 
of  year;  oh!  oh!  Send  me  a  cross  of  jet,  and  jet  beads, 
with  the  dress  —  and  a  jet  brooch  —  and  a  set  of  jet 
buttons,  in  case  —  besides,  oh !  oh !  oh !  I  expect  every 
moment  to  see  her  carried  home,  all  pale  and  wetted 
by  the  nasty  sea ;  oh !  oh !  —  and  an  evening  dress  of 
the  same,  the  newest  fashion.  I  leave  it  to  you;  don't 
ask  me  any  questions  about  it,  for  I  can't  and  won't  go 
into  that.  I  can  try  it  on  when  it  is  made;  oh!  oh!  oh! 
it  does  not  do  to  love  any  creature  as  I  loved  my  poor 
lost  Lucy  —  and  a  black  fan ;  oh !  oh !  and  a  dozen  pair 
of  black  kid  gloves ;  oh !  and  a  mourning-ring  — 
and " 

'*Stop,  aunt,  or  your  love  for  me  will  be  your  ruin," 
said  Lucy  coldly,  and  stood  suddenly  before  the  pair 
looking  rather  cynical. 

**  What,  Lucy!  alive!  No,  her  ghost,  ah!  ah!" 

"Be  calm,  aunt,  I  am  alive  and  well.  Now,  don't 
be  childish,  dear;  I  have  been  in  danger,  but  here  I  am." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  flew  together 
and  trembled  in  one  another's  arms.  Lucy  tried  to 
soothe  them,  but  at  last  could  not  help  laughing  at  them. 
This  brought  Baldwin  to  her  senses  quicker  than  any- 
thing, but  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  who,  like  many  false  women, 
was  hysterical,  went  off  into  spasms,  genuine  ones. 
They  gave  her  salts  —  in  vain.  Slapped  her  hands 
—  in  vain. 

Then  Lucy  cried  to  Baldwin,  "Quick,  the  tumbler, 
I  must  sprinkle  her  face  and  bosom." 


440  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

*'Oh,  don't  spoil  my  lilac  gown!"  gasped  the 
sufferer,  and  with  a  mighty  effort  she  came  to.  She 
would  have  come  back  from  the  edge  of  the  grave  to 
shield  silk  from  water.  Finally  she  wreathed  her  arms 
round  Lucy,  and  kissed  her  so  tenderly,  warmly,  and 
sobbingly,  that  Lucy  got  over  the  shock  of  her  shallow- 
ness; and  they  kissed  and  cried  together  most  joyously, 
while  Baldwin,  after  a  heroic  attempt  at  jubilation, 
retired  from  the  room  with  a  face  as  long  as  your  arm. 
A  has  les  revenants! !  She  went  to  the  housekeeper's 
room.  The  housekeeper  persuaded  her  to  stay  and 
take  a  bit  of  dinner;  and  soon  after  dinner  she  was  sent 
for  to  Mrs.  Bazalgette's  room. 

Lucy  met  her  coming  out  of  it.  *'I  fear  I  came  mal 
apropos,  Mrs.  Baldwin;  if  I  had  thought  of  it  I  would 
have  waited  till  you  had  secured  that  munificent  order." 

**I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  miss,  I  am  sure;  but 
you  were  always  a  considerate  young  lady.  You  '11  be 
glad  to  learn,  miss,  it  makes  no  difference;  I  have  got 
the  order  —  it  is  all  right." 

"That  is  fortunate,"  replied  Lucy  kindly,  '* other- 
wise I  should  have  been  tempted  to  commit  an  extra- 
vagance with  you  myself.  Well,  and  what  is  my  aunt's 
new  dress  to  be  now.^" 

*'Oh,  the  same,  miss." 

**The  same  ?  why  she  is  not  going  into  mourning  on 
my  return  .^  ha!  ha!" 

"La,  bless  you,  miss,  mourning.^  you  can't  call  that 
mourning;  glace  silk,  and  love-ribbons  scalloped  out, 
and  cetera.  Of  course  it  was  not  my  business  to  tell  her 
so,  but  I  could  not  help  thinking  to  myself  —  if  that  is 
the  way  my  folk  are  going  to  mourn  for  me,  they  may 
just  let  it  alone.     However,  that  is  all  over  now,  and 


LOVE  ME  LONG  441 

your  aunt  sent  for  me,  and  says  she,  *  Black  becomes 
me;  you  will  make  the  dresses  all  the  same. ' "  And 
Baldwin  retired  radiant. 

Lucy  put  her  hand  to  her  bosom.  "Make  the 
dresses  all  the  same !  —  All  the  same,  whether  I  am  alive 
or  dead!  No,  I  will  not  cry;  no,  I  will  not.  Who  is 
worth  a  tear.?  what  is  worth  a  tear.  All  the  same!  It 
is  not  to  be  forgotten  —  nor  forgiven.  Poor  Mr. 
Dodd!!" 

Mr.  Fountain  learned  the  good  news  in  the  town,  so 
his  meeting  with  Lucy  was  one  of  pure  joy.  Mr. 
Talboys  did  not  hear  anything.  He  had  business  up  in 
London,  and  did  not  stay  ten  minutes  in . 

The  house  revived,  and  jubilabat,  jubilabat.  But 
after  the  first  burst  of  triumph,  things  went  flat.  David 
Dodd  was  gone,  and  was  missed;  and  Lucy  was 
changed.  She  looked  a  shade  older,  and  more  than 
one  shade  graver ;  and  instead  of  living  solely  for  those 
who  happened  to  be  basking  in  her  rays,  she  was  now 
and  then  comparatively  inattentive,  thoughtful,  and 
distraite. 

Mr.  Fountain  watched  her  keenly;  ditto  Mrs. 
Bazalgette.  A  slight  reaction  had  taken  place  in  both 
their  bosoms.  '* Hang  the  girl!  there  were  we  breaking 
our  hearts  for  her,  and  she  was  alive."  She  had 
''beguiled  them  of  their  tears."  —  Othello,  But  they 
still  loved  her  quite  well  enough  to  take  charge  of  her 
fate. 

A  sort  of  itch  for  settling  other  people's  destinies, 
and  so  gaining  a  title  to  their  curses  for  our  pragmatical 
and  fatal  interference,  is  the  commonest  of  all  the  forms 
of  sanctioned  lunacy. 


442  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Moreover,  these  two  had  imbibed  the  spirit  of 
rivalry,  and  each  was  stimulated  by  the  suspicion  that 
the  other  was  secretly  at  work. 

Lucy's  voluntary  promise  in  the  ball-room  was  a 
double-sheet  anchor  to  Mr.  Fountain.  It  secured  him 
against  the  only  rival  he  dreaded.  Talboys,  too,  was 
out  of  the  way  just  now,  and  the  absence  of  the  suitor 
is  favourable  to  his  success,  where  the  lady  has  no  per- 
sonal liking  for  him.  To  work  went  our  Machiavel 
again  heart  and  soul;  and  whom  do  you  think  he  had 
the  cheek,  or,  as  the  French  say,  the  forehead,  to  try 
and  win  over  ?  —  Mrs.  Bazalgette. 

This  bold  step,  however,  was  not  so  strange  as  it 
would  have  been  a  month  ago.  The  fact  is,  I  have 
brought  you  unfairly  close  to  this  pair.  AVhen  you  meet 
them  in  the  world  you  will  be  charmed  with  both  of 
them,  and  recognise  neither.  There  are  whose  faults 
are  all  on  the  surface  —  these  are  generally  disliked ; 
there  are  whose  faults  are  all  at  the  core  —  they  charm 
creation.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  is  allowed  by  both  sexes  to 
be  the  most  delightful,  amiable  woman  in  the  county, 
and  will  carry  that  reputation  to  her  grave.  Fountain 
is  *'the  joUiest  old  buck  ever  went  on  two  legs."  I 
myself  would  rather  meet  twelve  such  agreeable  hum- 
bugs —  six  of  a  sex  —  at  dinner  —  than  the  twelve 
apostles;  and  so  would  you,  though  you  don't  know  it. 
These  two,  then,  had  long  ere  this  found  each  other 
mighty  agreeable.  The  woman  saw  the  man's  vanity, 
and  flattered  it.  The  man  the  woman's,  and  flattered 
it.  Neither  saw  —  am  I  to  say  —  his  own,  or  her  own  ? 
or  what.^  Hang  language!  !  !  !  In  short,  they  had 
long  ago  oiled  one  another's  asperities,  and  their  inter- 
course was  smooth   and  frequent;  they  were   always 


LOVE  ME  LONG  443 

chatting  together  —  strewing  flowers  of  speech  over 
their  mines  and  countermines. 

Mr.  Fountain,  then,  who,  in  virtue  of  his  sex  had 
the  less  patience,  broke  ground. 

"My  dear  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  I  would  not  have  missed 
this  visit  for  a  thousand  pounds.  Certainly  there  is 
nothing  like  contact  for  rubbing  off  prejudices.  I  little 
thought,  when  I  first  came  here,  the  principal  attraction 
of  the  place  would  prove  to  be  my  fair  hostess." 

"I  know  you  were  prejudiced,  my  dear  Mr. 
Fountain.  I  can't  say  I  ever  had  any  against  you; 
but  certainly  I  did  not  know  half  your  good  qualities. 
However,  your  courtesy  to  me,  when  I  invaded  you  at 
Font  Abbey,  prepared  me  for  your  real  character;  and 
now  this  visit,  I  trust,  makes  us  friends." 

'*Ah!  my  dear  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  one  thing  only  is 
wanting  to  make  you  my  benefactor,  as  well  as  friend; 
if  I  could  only  persuade  you  to  withdraw  your  power- 
ful opposition  to  a  poor  old  fellow's  dream." 

*'What  poor  old  fellow?" 

"Me." 

"You.?  why  you  are  not  so  very  old.  You  are  not 
above  fifty." 

"Ah,  fair  lady,  you  must  not  evade  me.  Come,  can 
nothing  soften  you .?" 

"I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  Mr.  Fountain,"  and 
the  mellifluous  tones  dried  suddenly. 

"You  are  too  sagacious  not  to  know  everything; 
you  know  my  heart  is  set  on  marrying  my  niece  to  a 
man  of  ancient  family." 

"With  all  my  heart.  You  have  only  to  use  your 
influence  with  her.     If  she  consents,  I  will  not  oppose." 

"You  cruel  little  lady,  you  know  it  is  not  enough  to 


444  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

withdraw  opposition;  I  can't  succeed  without  your 
kind  aid  and  support." 

"Now,  Mr.  Fountain,  I  am  a  great  coward,  but 
really  I  could  almost  venture  to  scold  you  a  little.  Is 
not  a  poor  little  woman  to  be  allowed  to  set  her  heart 
on  things  as  well  as  a  poor  old  gentleman,  who  does  not 
look  fifty  .^  You  know  my  poor  little  heart  is  bent  on 
her  marrying  into  our  own  set,  yet  you  can  ask  me  to 
influence  her  the  other  way;  me  who  have  never  once 
said  a  word  to  her  for  my  own  favourites.  No;  the 
fairest,  kindest,  and  best  way  is  to  leave  her  to  select 
her  own  happiness." 

"A  fine  thing  it  would  be  if  young  people  were  left 
to  marry  whom  they  like,"  retorted  Fountain.  **My 
dear  lady,  I  would  never  have  asked  your  aid  so  long 
as  there  was  the  least  chance  of  her  marrying  Mr. 
Hardie;  but  now  that  she  has  of  her  own  accord 
declined  him." 

"What  is  that.?  declined  Mr.  Hardie.?  when  did  he 
ever  propose  for  her.?" 

"You  misunderstand  me.  She  came  to  me  and 
told  me  she  would  never  marry  him." 

"When  was  that.?     I  don't  believe  it." 

"It  was  in  the  ball-room." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  reflected;  then  she  turned  very  red: 
"Well,  sir,"  said  she,  "don't  build  too  much  on  that; 
for  four  months  ago  she  made  me  a  solemn  promise 
she  would  never  marry  any  lover  you  should  find  her, 
and  she  repeated  that  promise  in  your  very  house." 

"I  don't  believe  it,  madam." 

"That  is  polite,  sir.  Come,  Mr.  Fountain,  you  are 
agitated,  and  cross,  and  it  is  no  use  being  cross  either 
with  me  or  with  Lucy.     You  asked  my  cooperation  — 


LOVE  ME  LONG  445 

you  gentlemen  can  ask  anything;  and  you  are  wise  to 
do  these  droll  things — that  is  where  you  gain  the  ad- 
vantage over  us  poor  cowards  of  women.  Well,  I  will 
cooperate  with  you.  Now  listen.  Lucy's  'penchant 
is  neither  for  Mr.  Hardie  nor  Mr.  Talboys,  but  for  / 
Mr.  Dodd." 

*'You  don't  mean  it.?" 

**Oh!  she  does  not  care  much  for  him;  she  has 
refused  him  to  my  knowledge,  and  would  again.  Be- 
sides, he  is  gone  to  India,  so  there  is  an  end  of  /lim.  She 
seems  a  little  languid  and  out  of  spirits;  it  may  be 
because  he  is  gone.  Now,  then,  is  the  very  time  to 
press  a  marriage  upon  her." 

'*The  very  worst  time,  surely,  if  she  is  really  such  an 
idiot  as  to  be  fretting  for  a  fellow  who  is  away." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  informed  her  new  ally  condescend- 
ingly, that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  sex  he  had  under- 
taken to  tackle. 

"When  a  cold-blooded  girl  like  this,  who  has  no 
strong  attachment,  is  out  of  spirits,  and  all  that  sort 
of  thing,  then  is  the  time  she  falls  to  any  resolute  wooer. 
She  will  yield  if  we  both  insist,  and  we  will  insist;  only 
keep  your  temper,  and  let  nothing  tempt  you  to  say  an 
unkind  word  to  her." 

She  then  rang  the  bell,  and  desired  that  Miss  Foun- 
tain might  be  requested  to  come  into  the  drawing-room 
for  a  minute. 

*'But  what  are  you  going  to  do.?" 

"Give  her  the  choice  of  two  husbands  —  Mr. 
Talboys  or  Mr.  Hardie." 

"  She  will  take  neither,  I  am  afraid." 

"Oh!  yes,  she  will." 

"Which.?" 


446     ^  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

**  Ah  ?  —  the  one  she  dislikes  the  least." 

"By  Jove,  you  are  right  —  you  are  an  angel*';  and 
the  old  gentleman,  in  his  gratitude  to  her  who  was  out- 
witting him,  and  vice  versa,  kissed  Mrs.  Bazalgette's 
hand  with  great  devotion,  in  which  act  he  was  surprised 
by  Lucy,  who  floated  through  the  folding-doors.  She 
said  nothing,  but  her  face  volumes. 

"Sit  down,  love." 

"Yes,  aunt." 

She  sat  down,  and  her  eye  mildly  bored  both  rela- 
tives, like,  if  you  can  imagine  a  gentle  gimlet,  worked 
by  insinuation,  not  force. 

Then  the  favoured  Fountain  enjoyed  the  inestimable 
privilege  of  beholding  a  small  bout  of  female  fence. 

The  accomplished  actress  of  forty  began. 

The  novice  held  herself  apparently  all  open  with  a 
sweet  smile ;  the  eye  being  the  only  weapon  that  showed 
point. 

"My  love,  your  uncle  and  I,  who  were  not  always 
just  to  one  another,  have  been  united  by  our  love  for 
you." 

"So  I  observed  as  I  came  in  —  a-hem." 

"Henceforth  we  are  one  where  your  welfare  is 
concerned;  and  we  have  something  serious  to  say  to 
you  now.  There  is  a  report,  dearest,  creeping  about, 
that  you  have  formed  an  unfortunate  attachment  —  to 
a  person  beneath  you." 

"Who  told  you  that,  aunt.^  Name,  as  they  say  in 
the  House." 

"No  matter;  these  things  are  commonly  said  without 
foundation  in  this  wicked  world;  but  still  it  is  always 
worth  our  while  to  prove  them  false,  not  of  course, 
directly  —  qui  s'  excuse  5'  accuse  —  but  indirectly." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  447 

"I  agree  with  you,  and  I  shall  do  so  in  my  uncle's 
presence.  You  were  present,  aunt  —  though  unin- 
vited —  when  the  gentleman  you  allude  to  offered  me 
what  I  consider  a  great  honour;  and  you  heard  me 
decline  it.  You  are  therefore  fully  able  to  contradict 
that  report,  whose  source,  by-the-by,  you  have  not  { 
given  me;  and,  of  course,  you  will  contradict  it." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  coloured  a  little.  But  she  said 
affectionately.  *' These  silly  rumours  are  best  con- 
tradicted by  a  good  marriage,  love,  and  that  brings  me 
to  something  more  important.  We  have  two  pro- 
posals for  you,  and  both  of  them  excellent  ones.  Now, 
in  a  matter  where  your  happiness  is  at  stake,  your  uncle 
and  I  are  determined  not  to  let  our  private  partialities 
speak.  We  do  press  you  to  select  one  of  these  offers, 
but  leave  you  quite  free  as  to  which  you  take.  Mr. 
Talboys  is  a  gentleman  of  old  family  and  large  estates,  \ 
Mr.  Hardie  is  a  wealthy  and  able  and  rising  man.  They 
are  both  attached  to  you;  both  excellent  matches. 
Whichever  you  choose,  your  uncle  and  I  shall  both  feel 
that  an  excellent  position  for  life  is  yours,  and  no  regret 
that  you  did  not  choose  our  especial  favourite  shall  stain 
our  joy  or  our  love."  With  this  generous  sentiment 
tears  welled  from  her  eyes;  whereat  Fountain  wor- 
shipped her,  and  felt  his  littleness. 

But  Lucy  was  of  her  own  sex,  and  had  observed 
what  an  unlimited  command  of  eye-water  an  hysterical 
female  possesses.  She  merely  bowed  her  head  gracious- 
ly, and  smiled  politely.  Thus  encouraged  to  proceed, 
her  aunt  dried  her  eyes  with  a  smile,  and  with  genial 
cheerfulness  proceeded.  '*  Well  then,  dear,  which  shall 
it  be.?  — Mr.  Talboys.?" 

Lucy  opened  her  eyes  so  innocently,     "My  dear 


448  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

aunt,  I  wonder  at  that  question  from  you;  did  you  not 
make  me  promise  you  I  would  never  marry  that  gentle- 
man, nor  any  friend  of  my  uncle's  ?" 

"And  did  you?"  cried  Fountain. 

*'I  did,"  replied  the  penitent,  hanging  her  head. 
*'My  aunt  was  so  kind  to  me  about  something  or  other, 
I  forget  what." 

Fountain  bounced  up  and  paced  the  room. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  lowered  her  voice.  "It  is  to  be 
Mr.  Hardie,  then.?" 

"Mr.  Hardie  !  !  !"  cried  Lucy,  rather  loudly,  to 
attract  her  uncle's  attention.  "Oh  no!  the  same  ob- 
jection applies  there;  I  made  my  uncle  a  solemn  prom- 
\  ise  not  to  marry  any  friend  of  yours,  aunt.  Poor  uncle ! 
I  refused  at  first,  but  he  looked  so  unhappy,  my  reso- 
lution failed,  and  I  gave  my  promise.  I  will  keep  it, 
uncle.     Don't  fear  me." 

It  cost  Mrs.  Bazalgette  a  fierce  struggle  to  com- 
mand her  temper.  Both  she  and  Fountain  were  dumb 
for  a  minute.     Then  elastic  Mrs.  Bazalgette  said  — 

"We  were  both  to  blame;  you  and  I  did  not  really 
know  each  other.  The  best  thing  we  can  do  now  is  to 
release  the  poor  girl  from  these  silly  promises  that  stand 
in  the  way  of  her  settlement  in  life." 

"I  agree,  madam." 

"So  do  I.  There,  Lucy,  choose;  for  we  both  re- 
lease you." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Lucy  gravely;  "but  how  can 
you  ?  No  unfair  advantage  was  taken  of  me.  I  plighted 
my  word  knowingly  and  solemnly,  and  no  human  power 
can  release  persons  of  honour  from  a  solemn  pledge. 
Besides,  just  now  you  would  release  me;  but  you  might 
not  always  be  in  the  same  mind.     No,  I  will  keep  faith 


LOVE  ME  LONG  449 

with  you  both,  and  not  place  my  truth  at  the  mercy  of 
any  human  being,  nor  of  any  circumstance.  If  that  is 
all,  please  permit  me  to  retire.  The  less  a  young  lady  of 
my  age  thinks  or  talks  about  the  other  sex,  the  more  time 
she  has  for  her  books  and  her  needle;"  and  having 
delivered  this  precious  sentence  with  a  deliberate  and 
most  deceiving  imitation  of  the  pedantic  prude,  she 
departed,  and,  outside  the  door,  broke  instantly  into 
a  joyous  chuckle  at  the  expense  of  the  plotters  she  had 
left  looking  moon-struck  in  one  another's  faces. 

If  the  new  allies  had  been  both  Fountain,  the  apple 
of  discord  this  sweet  novice  threw  down  between  them 
would  have  dissolved  the  alliance,  as  the  sly  novice 
meant  it  to  do.  But  while  the  gentleman  went  storming 
about  the  room  ripe  for  civil  war,  the  lady  leaned  back 
in  her  chair  and  laughed  heartily. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Fountain,  it  is  no  use  your  being  cross 
with  a  female,  or  she  will  get  the  better  of  you.  She 
has  outwitted  us.  We  took  her  for  a  fool,  and  she  is  a 
clever  girl.  I  '11  tell  —  you  —  what  —  she  is  a  very 
clever  girl.  Never  mind  that,  she  is  only  a  girl;  and, 
if  you  will  be  ruled  by  me,  her  happiness  shall  be  se- 
cured in  spite  of  her,  and  she  shall  be  engaged  in  less 
than  a  week." 

Fountain  recognised  his  superior,  and  put  himself 
under  the  lady's  orders  —  in  an  evil  hour  for  Lucy. 

The  poor  girl's  triumph  over  the  forces  was  but 
momentary  —  her  ground  was  not  tenable.  The  per- 
son promised  can  release  the  person  who  promises  — 
volenti  non  fit  injuria.  Lucy  found  herself  attacked 
with  female  weapons,  that  you  and  I,  sir,  should  laugh 
at;  but  they  made  her  miserable.  Cold  looks;  short 
answers;  solemnity;  distance;  hints  at  ingratitude  and 


450  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

perverseness ;  kisses  intermitted  all  day  and  the  parting 
one  at  night  degraded  to  a  dignified  ceremony.  Under 
this  impalpable  persecution  the  young  thoroughbred, 
that  had  steered  the  boat  across  the  breakers,  winced 
and  pined. 

She  did  not  want  a  husband  or  a  lover,  but  she  could 
not  live  without  being  loved.  She  was  not  sent  into  the 
world  for  that.  She  began  secretly  to  hate  the  two  gen- 
tlemen that  had  lost  her  her  relation's  affection,  and  she 
looked  round  to  see  how  she  could  get  rid  of  them  with- 
out giving  fresh  offence  to  her  dear  aunt  and  uncle.  If 
she  could  only  make  it  their  own  act.  Now,  a  man  in 
such  a  case  inclines  to  give  the  obnoxious  parties  a 

I  chance  of  showing  themselves  generous  and  delicate. 
He  would  reveal  the  whole  situation  to  them,  and 
indicate  the  generous  and  manly  course;  but  your 
thorough  woman  cannot  do  this :  it  is  physically  as  well 
as  morally  impossible  to  her.  Misogynists  say  it  is  too 
wise,  and  not  cunning  enough.  So  what  does  Miss 
Lucy  do  but  turn  round  and  make  love  to  Captain 
Kenealy.     And  the  cold  virgin  being  at  last  by  irre- 

j  vocable  fate  driven  to  love-making,  I  will  say  this  for 
her  she  did  not  do  it  by  halves.  She  felt  quite  safe  here. 
The  good-natured,  hollow  captain  was  fortified  against 
passion  by  self-admiration.  She  said  to  herself," 
'*Now,  here  is  a  peg  with  a  military  suit  hanging  to  it; 
if  I  can  only  fix  my  eyes  on  this  piece  of  wood  and 
regimentals,  and  make  warm  love  to  it,  the  love  that 
poets  have  dreamed  and  romances  described,  I  may 
surely  hope  to  disgust  my  two  admirers,  and  then  they 
will  abandon  me  and  despise  me.  Ah,  I  could  love 
them  if  they  would  only  do  that. 

Well,  for   a    young  lady  that  had  never,   to  her 


LOVE  ME  LONG  451 

knowledge,  felt  the  tender  passion,  the  imitation  thereof 
which  she  now  favoured  that  little  society  with,  was  a 
wonderful  piece  of  representation.  Was  Kenealy  ab- 
sent, behold  Lucy  uneasy  and  restless ;  was  he  present, 
but  at  a  distance,  her  eye  demurely  devoured  him. 
Was  he  near  her,  she  wooed  him  with  such  a  god-like 
mixture  of  fire,  of  tenderness,  of  flattery,  of  tact;  she 
did  so  serpentinely  approach  and  coil  round  the  soldier 
and  his  mental  cavity,  that  all  the  males  in  creation 
should  have  been  permitted  to  defile  past  (like  the 
beasts  going  into  the  ark),  and  view  this  sweet  picture 
a  moment,  and  infer  how  woman  would  be  wooed  — 
and  then  go  and  do  it.  Effect  —  Talboys  and  Hardie 
—  mortified  to  the  heart's  core ;  thought  they  had  alto- 
gether mistaken  her  character — ^''She  is  a  love-sick 
fool." 

On  Bazalgette —  "Ass!  Dodd  was  worth  a  hun- 
dred of  him!" 

On  Kenealy  —  made  him  twirl  his  moustache. 

On  Fountain  —  filled  him  with  dismay. 

There  remained  only  one  to  be  hoodwinked. 

SCENA 

A  letter  is  brought  in  and  handed  to  Captain  Ken- 
ealy. He  reads  it  and  looks  a  little,  a  very  little,  vexed. 
Nobody  else  notices  it. 

Lticy,  *'What  is  the  matter.  Oh!  what  has 
occurred?" 

Kenealy,     "Nothing  particulaa." 

Lucy.  "Don't  deceive  us:  it  is  an  order  for  you  to 
join  the  horrid  army."  (Clasps  her  hands.)  "You  are 
going  to  leave  us." 


452  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Kenealy.  '*No;  it  is  from  my  tailaa.  He  waunts 
to  be  paed!"  (Glares  astonished.) 

Lucy.  **Pay  the  creature,  and  never  more  employ 
him." 

Kenealy.  '*  Can't.  Hav' n't  got  the  money.  Uncle 
won't  daie.  The  begaa  knows  I  can't  pay  him.  That 
is  the  only  reason  why  he  duns." 

Lucy.  **He  knows  it;  then  what  business  has  he 
to  annoy  you  thus.^  Take  my  advice.  Return  no 
reply.  That  is  not  courteous.  But  when  the  sole 
motive  of  an  application  is  impertinence,  silent  contempt 
is  the  course  best  begetting  your  dignity." 

Kenealy  (twirling  his  moustache) .  * '  Dem  the  f ellaa. 
Sha'n't  take  any  notice  of  him." 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  (to  Lucy  in  passing).  "Do  you 
think  we  are  all  fools  .^" 

Ibi  omnis  ejfusus  amor:  —  for  la  Bazalgette  un- 
deceived her  ally  and  Mr.  Hardie,  and  the  screw  was 
put  harder  still  on  poor  Lucy.  She  was  no  longer 
treated  like  an  equal,  but  made  for  the  first  time  to  feel 
that  her  uncle  and  aunt  were  her  elders  and  superiors, 
and  that  she  was  in  revolt.  All  external  signs  of  affec- 
tion were  withdrawn;  and  this  was  like  docking  a 
strawberry  of  its  water.  A  young  girl  may  have  flashes 
of  spirit,  heroism  even,  but  her  mind  is  never  steel  from 
top  to  toe;  it  is  sure  to  be  wax  in  more  places  than  one. 

**  Nobody  loves  me  now  that  poor  Mr.  Dodd  is  gone," 
sighed  Lucy.  *' Nobody  ever  will  love  me,  unless  I 
consent  to  sacrifice  myself.  Well,  why  not;  I  shall 
never  love  any  gentleman  as  others  of  my  sex  can  love. 
I  will  go  and  see  Mrs.  Wilson." 

So  she  ordered  out  her  captain,  and  rode  to  Mrs. 
Wilson,  and  made  her  captain  hold  her  pony  while  she 


LOVE  ME  LONG  453 

went  in.  Mrs.  Wilson  received  her  with  a  tenor  scream 
of  delight,  that  revived  Lucy's  heart  to  hear;  and  then 
it  was  nothing  but  one  broad  gush  of  hilarity  and  cordi- 
ality—  showed  her  the  house,  showed  her  the  cows, 
showed  her  the  parlour  at  last,  and  made  her  sit  down. 

''Come,  set  ye  down,  set  ye  down,  and  let  me  have 
a  downright  good  look  at  ye.  It  is  not  often  I  clap 
eyes  on  ye,  or  on  anything  like  ye,  for  that  matter. 
Are  n't  ye  well,  my  dear .?" 

"Oh,  yes." 

"Are  ye  sure.?  Haven't  ye  ailed  anything  since 
I  saw  ye  up  at  the  house .?  " 

"No,  dear  nurse." 

"Then  you  are  in  care.  Bless  you,  it  is  not  the 
same  face.  To  a  stranger,  belike,  but  not  to  the  one 
that  suckled  you.  WTiy,  there  is  next  door  to  a  wrinkle 
on  your  pretty  brow,  and  a  little  hollow  under  your 
eye,  and  your  face  is  drawn  like :  and  not  half  the  colour. 
You  are  in  trouble  or  grief  of  some  sort.  Miss  Lucy;  and 
—  who  knows  ?  —  mayhap  you  be  come  to  tell  it  your 
poor  old  nurse.  You  might  go  to  a  worse  part.  Ay! 
what  touches  you  will  touch  me,  my  nurseling  dear;  all 
one  as  if  it  was  your  own  mother." 

"Ah!  you  love  me,"  cried  Lucy,  "I  don't  know  why 
you  love  me  so,  I  have  not  deserved  it  of  you,  as  I  have 
of  others  that  look  coldly  on  me.  Yes,  you  love  me,  or 
you  would  not  read  my  face  like  this.  It  is  true:  I  am 
a  little  —  oh,  nurse,  I  am  so  unhappy!"  and  in  a  mo- 
nient  she  was  weeping  and  sobbing  in  Mrs.  Wilson's 
arms. 

The  amazon  sat  down  with  her,  and  rocked  to  and 
fro  with  her  as  if  she  was  still  a  child.  "  Don't  check  it, 
my  lamb,"  said  she,  "have  a  good  cry;  never  drive  a 


454  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

cry  back  on  your  heart."  And  so  Lucy  sobbed  and 
sobbed,  and  Mrs.  Wilson  rocked  her. 

When  she  had  done  sobbing  she  put  up  a  grateful 
face  and  kissed  Mrs.  Wilson.  But  the  good  woman 
would  not  let  her  go;  she  still  rocked  with  her,  and 
said,  "Ay,  ay!  it  was  n't  for  nothing  I  was  drawed  so 
to  go  to  your  house  that  day.  I  did  n't  know  you  were 
there;  but  I  was  drawed.  I  WAS  WANTED.  Tell  me 
all,  my  lamb ;  never  keep  grief  on  your  heart ;  give  it  a 
vent;  put  a  part  on't  on  me;  I  do  claim  it;  you  will  see  how 
much  lighter  your  heart  will  feel.     Is  it  a  young  man .?" 

"Oh,  no,  no!  I  hate  young  men;  I  wish  there  were 
no  such  things.  But  for  them  no  dissension  could  ever 
have  entered  the  house.  My  uncle  and  aunt  both  loved 
me  once,  and  oh!  they  were  so  kind  to  me.  Yes; 
since  you  permit  me,  I  will  tell  you  all." 

And  she  told  her  a  part. 

She  told  her  the  whole  Talboys  and  Hardie  part. 

Mrs.  Wilson  took  a  broad  and  somewhat  vulgar 
view  of  the  distress. 

"Why,  Miss  Lucy,"  said  she,  "if  that  is  all,  you  can 
soon  sew  up  their  stockings.  You  don't  depend  on 
them  any  ways  —  you  are  a  young  lady  of  property." 

"Oh,  ami.?" 

"Sure.  I  have  heard  your  dear  mother  say  often 
as  all  her  money  was  settled  on  you  by  deed.  Why,  you 
must  be  of  age.  Miss  Lucy,  or  near  it." 

"The  day  after  to-morrow,  nurse." 

"There,  now;  I  knew  your  birthday  could  not  be 
far  off.  Well,  then,  you  must  wait  till  you  are  of  age, 
and  then  if  they  torment  you,  or  put  on  you,  'Good- 
morning,'  says  you;  *if  we  can't  agree  together,  let's 
agree  to  part,'  says  you." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  455 

"What,  leave  my  relations!  !" 

*'It  is  their  own  faults.  Good  friends  before  bad 
kindred !  They  only  want  to  make  a  handle  of  you  to 
get  'em  rich  son-in-laws.  You  pluck  up  a  sperrit,  Miss 
Lucy.  There 's  no  getting  through  the  world  without 
a  bit  of  a  sperrit.  You  '11  get  put  upon  at  every  turn, 
else;  and  if  they  don't  vally  you  in  that  house,  why,  off 
to  another;  y'  aint  chained  to  their  door,  I  do  suppose." 

"But,  nurse,  a  young  lady  cannot  live  by  herself; 
there  is  no  instance  of  it." 

"All  wisdom  had  a  beginning.  'Oh!  sha'n't  I  spoil 
the  pudding  once  I  cut  it,'  quoth  Jack's  wife." 

"WTiat  would  people  say.?" 

"^Miat  could  they  say.?  You  come  to  me,  which  I 
am  all  the  mother  you  have  got  left  upon  earth;  and 
what  scandal  could  they  make  out  of  that,  I  should  like 
to  know  ?  Let  them  try  it.  But  don't  let  me  catch  it 
atween  their  lips,  or  down  they  do  go  on  the  bare  ground, 
and  their  caps  in  pieces  to  the  winds  of  heaven";  and 
she  flourished  her  hand  and  a  massive  arm  with  a 
gesture,  free,  inspired,  and  formidable. 

"Ah,  nurse!  with  you  I  should  indeed  feel  safe  from 
every  ill.  But  for  all  that  I  shall  never  go  beyond  the 
usages  of  society.     I  shall  never  leave  my  aunt's  house." 

"I  don't  say  as  you  will.  But  I  shall  get  your  room 
ready  this  afternoon,  and  no  later." 

"No,  nurse,  you  must  not  do  that." 

"Tell  ee  I  shall.  Then,  whether  you  come  or  not, 
there 't  is.  And  when  they  put  on  you,  you  have  no 
call  to  fret.  Says  you,  *  There 's  my  room  a  waiting, 
and  likewise  my  welcome,  too,  at  Dame  Wilson's;  I 
don't  need  to  stand  no  more  nonsense  here  than  I  do 
choose,'  says  you.     Dear  heart!  even  a  little  foolish, 


456  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

simple  thought  like  that  will  help  keep  your  sperrit  up. 
You'll  see  else;  you'll  see." 

*'Oh,  nurse,  how  wise  you  are!  You  know  human 
nature." 

*'Well,  I  am  older  than  you,  miss,  a  precious  sight; 
and  if  I  had  n't  got  one  eye  open  at  this  time  of  day, 
why,  when  should  I,  you  know.?" 

After  this,  a  little  home-made  wine  forcibly  admin- 
istered, and  then  much  kissing,  and  Lucy  rode  away 
revivified  and  cheered,  and  quite  another  girl.  Her 
spirits  rose,  so  that  she  proposed  to  Kenealy  to  extend 

their  ride  by  crossing  the  country  to .     She  wanted 

to  buy  some  gloves. 

"Yaas,"  said  the  assenter;  and  off  they  cantered. 

In  the  glove-shop  who  should  Lucy  find  but  Eve 
Dodd.  She  held  out  her  hand,  but  Eve  affected  not 
to  observe,  and  bowed  distantly.  Lucy  would  not 
take  the  hint.     After  a  pause,  she  said: 

"Have  you  any  news  of  Mr.  Dodd.?" 

"I  have,"  was  the  stiff  reply. 

"He  left  us  without  even  saying  good-bye." 

"Did  he.?" 

"Yes,  after  saving  all  our  lives.  Need  I  say  that 
we  are  anxious,  in  our  turn,  to  hear  of  his  safety.  It 
was  still  very  tempestuous  when  he  left  us  to  catch  the 
great  ship;  and  he  was  in  an  open  boat." 

"My  brother  is  alive.  Miss  Fountain,  if  that  is 
what  you  wish  to  know." 

"Alive.?  is  he  not  well.?  has  he  met  with  any 
accident .?  any  misfortune .?  is  he  in  the  East  India- 
man.?  has  he  written  to  you.?" 

"You  are  very  curious:  it  is  rather  late  in  the  day. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  457 

But  if  I  am  to  speak  about  my  brother,  it  must  be  at 
home,  and  not  in  an  open  shop.  I  can't  trust  my 
feelings." 

"Are  you  going  home.  Miss  Dodd.^" 

"Yes." 

"Shall  I  come  with  you.?" 

"If  you  like;  it  is  close  by." 

Lucy's  heart  quaked.  Eve  was  so  stern;  and  her 
eyes  like  basilisks.' 

"Sit  down.  Miss  Fountain,  and  I  will  tell  you  what 
you  have  done  for  my  brother.     I  did  not  court  this,       / 
you  know.     I  would  have  avoided  your  eye  if  I  could  — 
it  is  your  doing." 

"Yes,  Miss  Dodd,"  faltered  Lucy,  "and  I  should 
do  it  again.  I  have  a  right  to  inquire  after  his  welfare, 
who  saved  my  life." 

"Well,  then,  Miss  Fountain,  his  saving  your  life      | 
has  lost  him  his  ship,  and  ruined  him  for  life." 

"Oh!" 

"He  came  in  sight  of  the  ship,  but  the  captain,  that 
was  jealous  of  him  like  all  the  rest,  made  all  sail  and  / 
ran  from  him.  He  chased  her,  and  often  was  near 
catching  her,  but  she  got  clear  out  of  the  Channel,  and 
my  poor  David  had  to  come  back  disgraced,  ruined  for 
life,  and  broken-hearted.  The  Company  will  never 
forgive  him  for  deserting  his  ship.  His  career  is  blighted, 
and  all  for  one  that  never  cared  a  straw  for  him.  Oh, 
Miss  Fountain,  it  was  an  evil  day  for  my  poor  brother 
when  first  he  saw  your  face!"  Eve  would  have  said 
more,  for  her  heart  was  burning  with  wrath  and  bitter- 
ness, but  she  was  interrupted. 

Lucy  raised  both  her  hands  to  heaven,  and  then, 
bowing  her  head,  wept  tenderly  and  humbly. 


458  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

A  woman's  tears  do  not  always  affect  another 
woman;  but  one  reason  is,  they  are  very  very  often  no 
sign  of  grief,  or  of  any  worthy  feeling.  The  sex, 
accustomed  to  read  the  nicer  shades  of  emotion,  dis- 
tinguishes tears  of  pique,  tears  of  disappointment,  tears 
of  spite,  tears  various  —  from  tears  of  grief.  But 
Lucy's  was  a  burst  of  regret,  so  sincere,  of  sorrow  and 
pity  so  tender  and  innocent,  that  it  fell  on  Eve's  hot 
heart  like  the  dew. 

"Ah,  well!"  she  cried,  **it  was  to  be;  it  was  to  be. 
And  I  suppose  I  ought  n't  to  blame  you.  But  all  he 
does  for  you  tells  against  himself,  and  that  does  seem 
hard;  it  is  n't  as  if  you  and  he  were  anything  to  one 
another,  then  I  shouldn't  grudge  it  so  much.  He  has 
lost  his  character  as  a  seaman." 

"Oh,  dear!" 

"He  valued  it  a  deal  more  than  his  life.  He  was 
always  ready  to  throw  that  away  for  you  or  anybody 
else.     He  has  lost  his  standing  in  the  service.'' 

"Oh!" 

"You  see  he  has  no  interest,  like  some  of  them;  he 
only  got  on  by  being  better  and  cleverer  than  all  the 
rest.  So  the  Company  won't  listen  to  any  excuses  from 
him,  and,  indeed,  he  is  too  proud  to  make  them.  He 
will  never  be  captain  of  a  ship  now;  what  do  I  say.^ 
Captain  of  a  ship  ?  Will  he  ever  leave  the  bed  of  sick- 
ness he  lies  on?" 

"The  bed  of  sickness!  Is  he  ill.^  Oh,  what  have  I 
done.?" 

"Is  he  ill  .'^  What,  do  you  think  my  brother  is 
made  of  iron  ?  Out  all  night  with  you  —  then  off, 
with  scarce  a  wink  of  sleep;  then  two  days  and  two 
nights    chasing   the    Combermere,    sometimes   gaining. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  459 

sometimes  losing,  and  his  credit  and  his  good  name 
hanging  on  it;  then  to  beat  back  against  wind,  heart- 
broken, and  no  food  on  board." 

*'Oh,  it  is  too  horrible!" 

*'He  staggered  in  to  me  white  as  a  ghost.  I  got  him 
to  bed ;  he  was  in  a  burning  fever.  In  the  night  he  was 
light-headed,  and  all  his  talk  was  about  you.  He  kept 
fretting  lest  you  should  not  have  got  safe  home.  It  is 
always  so.  We  care  the  most  for  those  that  care  the 
least  for  us." 

*'Is  he  in  the  Indiaman.?" 

"No,  Miss  Fountain,  he  is  not  in  the  Indiaman," 
cried  Eve,  her  wrath  suddenly  rising  again;  "he  lies 
there.  Miss  Fountain,  in  that  room,  at  death's  door,  and 
you  to  thank  for  it." 

At  this  stab  Lucy  uttered  a  cry  like  a  wounded  deer. 
But  this  cry  was  followed  immediately  by  one  of  terror. 
The  door  opened  suddenly,  and  there  stood  David 
Dodd,  looking  as  white  as  his  sister  had  said,  but  as 
usual,  not  in  the  humour  to  succumb.  "Me  at  death's 
port,  did  you  say.?"  cried  he,  in  a  loud  tone  of  cheerful 
defiance,  "tell  that  to  the  marines !  ! " 


CHAPTER  XXII 

"I  HEARD  your  voice,  Miss  Lucy.  I  would  know  it 
among  a  million;  so  I  rigged  myself  directly.  A^Tiy, 
what  is  the  matter  ?  " 

"Oh,  Mr.  Dodd,"  sobbed  Lucy,  **she  has  told  me 
all  you  have  gone  through,  and  I  am  the  wicked,  wicked 
cause  .^" 

David  groaned.  "If  I  didn't  think  as  much.  I 
heard  the  mill  going.  Ah,  Eve,  my  girl,  your  jawing- 
tackle  is  too  well  hung.  Eve  is  a  good  sister  to  me, 
Miss  Lucy,  and,  where  I  am  concerned,  let  her  alone 
for  making  a  mountain  out  of  a  mole-hill.  If  you 
believe  all  she  says,  you  are  to  blame.  The  thing  that 
went  to  my  heart  was  to  see  my  skipper  run  out  his 
stunsel  booms  the  moment  he  saw  me  overhauling  him ; 
it  was  a  dirty  action,  and  him  an  old  shipmate.  I  am 
glad  now  I  could  n't  catch  her,  for,  if  I  had,  my  foot 
would  not  have  been  on  the  deck  two  seconds  before 
his  carcass  would  have  been  in  the  Channel.  And  pray. 
Eve,  what  has  Miss  Fountain  got  to  do  with  that  ?  the 
dirty  lubber  was  n't  bred  at  her  school,  or  he  would  not 
have  served  an  old  messmate  so.  Belay  all  that,  and  let 's 
hear  something  worth  hearing.  Now,  Miss  Lucy,  you 
tell  me.  Oh,  Lord,  Eve,  I  say,  is  n't  the  thundering  old 
dingy  room  bright  now  ?  You  spin  me  your  own  yarn, 
if  you  will  be  so  good.  Here  you  are  safe  and  sound, 
the  Lord  be  praised !  But  I  left  you  under  the  lee  of 
that  thundering  island  —  was  n't  very  polite,  was  it  ? 
but  you  will  excuse,  won't  you.?     Duty,  you  know;  a 

460 


LOVE  ME  LONG  461 

seaman  must  leave  his  pleasure  for  his  duty.  Tell 
me,  now,  how  did  you  come  on  ?  Was  the  vessel  com- 
fortable ?  You  would  not  sail  till  the  wind  fell  ?  Had 
you  a  good  voyage?  A  tiresome  one,  I  am  afraid. 
The  sloop  was  n't  built  for  fast  sailing.  When  did  you 
land.?" 

To  this  fire  of  eager  questions,  Lucy  was  in  no  state 
to  answer.  *'Oh  no,  Mr.  Dodd,"  she  cried,  **I  can't. 
I  am  choking.  Yes,  Miss  Dodd,  I  am  the  heartless, 
unfeeling  girl  you  think  me."  Then  with  a  sudden 
dart,  she  took  David's  hand  and  kissed  it,  and  both  her 
hands  hiding  her  blushing  face,  she  fled,  and  a  single 
sob  she  let  fall  at  the  door  was  the  last  of  her.  So  sud- 
den was  her  exit,  it  left  both  brother  and  sister  stupefied. 

"Eve,  she  is  offended,"  said  David,  with  dismay. 

"What  if  she  is  .?"  retorted  Eve;  "and  —  no,  she  is 
not  offended;  but  I  have  made  her  feel  at  last  —  and  a 
good  job  too.  Why  should  she  escape  ?  she  has  done  all 
the  mischief.     Come,  you  go  to  bed." 

"Not  I,  I  have  been  long  enough  on  my  beam  ends. 
And  I  have  heard  her  voice,  and  I  have  see  her  face, 
and  they  have  put  life  into  me.  I  shall  cruise  about  the 
port.  I  have  gone  to  leeward  of  John  Company's 
favour;  but  there  are  plenty  of  coasting  vessels.  I  may 
get  the  command  of  one.  I'll  try;  a  seaman  never 
strikes  his  flag  while  there 's  a  shot  in  the  locker." 

"Here,  put  me  up.  Captain  Kenealy.  Oh,  do  pray 
make  haste,  don't  daudle  so!"  Off  cantered  Lucy,  and 
fanned  her  pony  along  without  mercy.  At  the  door  of 
the  house  she  jumped  off  without  assistance,  and  ran  to 
Mr.  Bazalgette's  study  and  knocked  hastily,  and  that 
gentleman  was  not  a  little  surprised  when  this  unusual 


46^  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

visitor  came  to  his  side  with  some  signs  of  awe  at  having 
penetrated  his  sanctum,  but  evidently  driven  by  an 
overpowering  excitement.  ''Oh,  Uncle  Bazalgette!  Oh, 
Uncle  Bazalgette!" 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter?  Why,  the  child  is  ill. 
Don't  gasp  like  that,  Lucy.  Come,  pluck  up  courage, 
I  am  sure  to  be  on  your  side,  you  know.     What  is  it  ?" 

" Uncle,  you  are  always  so  kind  to  me!  you  know  you 
are." 

"  Oh,  am  I  ?     Noble  old  fellow ! " 

**Oh,  don't  make  me  laugh!  ha!  ha!  oh!  oh!  oh!  ha! 
oh!" 

''Confound  it!  I  have  sent  her  into  hysterics;  no, 
she  is  coming  round.  Ten  thousand  million  plagues, 
has  anybody  been  insulting  the  child  in  my  house  .^ 
they  have.     My  wife,  for  a  guinea." 

"  No !  no !  no !    It  is  about  Mr.  Dodd." 

"Mr.  Dodd.?  oho." 

"I  have  ruined  him." 

"How  have  you  managed  that,  my  dear .?" 

Then  Lucy,  all  in  a  flutter,  told  Mr.  Bazalgette 
what  the  reader  has  just  learned. 

He  looked  grave.  "Lucy,"  said  he,  "be  frank  with 
me.     Is  not  Mr.  Dodd  in  love  with  you  .?" 

"I  will  be  frank  with  you,  dear  uncle,  because  you 
are  frank.  Poor  Mr.  Dodd  did  love  me  once.  But  I 
refused  him,  and  so  his  good  sense  and  manliness  cured 
him  directly." 

"And  now  that  he  no  longer  loves  you,  you  love  him. 
That  is  so  like  you  girls." 

"  Oh,  no,  uncle,  how  ridiculous !  If  I  loved  Mr.  Dodd 
I  could  repair  the  cruel  injuries  I  have  done  him  with  a 
single  word.     I  have  only  to  recall  my  refusal,  and  he 


LOVE  ME  LONG  463 

But  I  do  not  love  Mr.  Dodd.     Esteem  him  I  do, 

and  he  has  saved  my  life ;  and  is  he  to  lose  his  health  and 
his  character,  and  his  means  of  honourable  ambition 
for  that  ?  Do  you  not  see  how  shocking  this  is,  and  how 
galling  to  my  pride  ?  Yes,  uncle,  I  have  been  insulted. 
His  sister  told  me  to  my  face  it  was  an  evil  day  for  him 
when  he  and  I  first  met  —  that  was  at  Uncle  Fountain's. 

'*  Well,  and  what  am  I  to  do,  Lucy  .^  " 

"Dear  uncle,  what  I  thought  was,  if  you  would  be 
so  kind  as  to  use  your  influence  with  the  Company  in  his 
favour.  Tell  them  that  if  he  did  miss  his  ship,  it  was 
not  by  a  fault,  but  by  a  noble  virtue;  tell  them  that  it  / 
was  to  save  a  fellow-creature's  life,  a  young  lady's  life, 
one  that  did  not  deserve  it  from  him  —  your  own  niece's ; 
tell  them  it  is  not  for  your  honour  he  should  be  disgraced. 
Oh,  uncle,  you  know  what  to  say  so  much  better  than 
I  do." 

Bazalgette   grinned,    and    straightway   resolved    to 
perpetrate  a  practical  joke,  and  a  very  innocent  one. 
"Well,"  said  he,  "the  best  way  I  can  think  of  to  meet 
your  views  will  be,  I  think,  to  get  him  appointed  to  the     \ 
new  ship  the  Company  is  building." 

Lucy  opened  her  eyes,  and  the  blood  rushed  to  her 
cheek.  "Oh,  uncle,  do  I  hear  aright.'^  a  ship.?  are  you 
so  powerful  ?  are  you  so  kind  ?  do  you  love  your  poor 
niece  so  well  as  all  this.^  Oh!  Uncle  Bazalgette.?" 

"There  is  no  end  to  my  power,"  said  the  old  man 
solemnly;  "no  limit  to  my  goodness,  no  bounds  to  my 
love  for  my  poor  niece.  Are  you  in  a  hurry,  my  poor 
niece  .'^  shall  we  have  his  commission  down  to-morrow, 
or  wait  a  month.?" 

"To-morrow  ?  is  it  possible  ?  Oh,  yes.  I  count  the 
minutes  till  I  say  to  his  sister  — '  There,  Miss  Dodd,  I 


464  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

have  friends  who  value  me  too  highly  to  let  me  lie  under 
these  galling  obligations.'  Dear,  dear  uncle,  I  don't 
mind  being  under  them  to  you,  because  I  love  you," 
(kisses). 

"AndnotMr.Dodd.?" 

"No,  dear.  And  that  is  the  reason  I  would  rather 
give  him  a  ship,  than  —  the  only  other  thing  that  would 
make  him  happy.  And  really,  but  for  your  goodness,  I 
should  have  been  tempted  to  —  ha!  ha!  Oh!  I  am  so 
happy  now.  No;  much  as  I  admire  my  preserver's 
courage,  and  delicacy,  and  unselfishness,  and  goodness, 
I  don't  love  him;  so,  but  for  this,  he  must  have  been 
unhappy  for  life :  and  then  I  should  have  been  miserable 
for  ever." 

''Perfectly  clear  and  satisfactory,  my  dear.  Now, 
if  the  commission  is  to  be  down  to-morrow,  you  must  not 
stay  here,  because  I  have  other  letters  to  write  to  go  by 
the  same  courier  that  takes  my  application  for  the  ship." 

"And  do  you  really  think  I  will  go  till  I  have  kissed 
you,  Uncle  Bazalgette  .^ " 

"On  a  subject  so  important,  I  hardly  venture  to 
give  an  opin  —  hallo !  kissing,  indeed !  Why,  it  is  like 
a  young  wolf  flying  at  horse-flesh." 

"Then  that  will  teach  you  not  to  be  kinder  to  me 
than  anybody  else  is." 

Lucy  ran  out  radiant  and  into  the  garden.  Here 
she  encountered  Kenealy,  and  coming  on  him  with  a 
blaze  of  beauty  and  triumph,  fired  a  resolution  that  had 
smouldered  in  him  a  day  or  two. 

He  twirled  his  moustache,  and  popped  briefly. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

After  the  first  start  of  rueful  astonishment,  the  indig- 
nation of  the  just  fired  Lucy's  eyes. 
She  scolded  him  well. 

"Was  this  his  return  for  all  her  late  kindness  ?" 
She  hinted  broadly  at  the  viper  of  ^Esop,  and 
indicated  more  faintly  an  animal,  that  when  one  bestows 
the  choicest  favours  on  it,  turns  and  rends  one.  Then 
becoming  suddenly  just  to  the  brute  creation,  she  said, 
"No,  it  is  only  your  abominable  sex  that  would  behave 
so  perversely,  so  ungratefully." 

"Don't  understand,"  drawled  Kenealy;  "I  thought 
you  would  laike  it." 

"  Well,  you  see,  I  don't  laike  it." 
"You  seemed  to  be  getting  rather  spooney  on  me." 
"Spooney!  what  is  that.'^  one  of  your  mess-room 
terms,  I  suppose.?" 

"  Yaas;  so  I  thought  you  waunted  me  to  paup." 
"Captain  Kenealy,  this  subterfuge  is  unworthy  of 
you.  You  know  perfectly  well  why  I  distinguished  you. 
Others  pestered  me  with  their  attachments  and 
nonsense,  and  you  spared  me  that  annoyance ;  in  return 
I  did  all  in  my  power  to  show  you  the  grateful  friend- 
ship I  thought  you  worthy  of.  But  you  have  broken 
faith,  you  have  violated  the  clear,  though  tacit  under- 
standing, that  subsisted  between  us,  and  I  am  very 
angry  with  you.  I  have  some  little  influence  left  with 
my  aunt,  sir,  and  unless  I  am  much  mistaken,  you  will 
shortly  rejoin  the  army,  sir." 

465 


466  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

'*What  a  boa!  what  a  dem-d  boa!" 

"And  don't  swear;  that  is  another  foolish  custom 
you  gentlemen  have ;  it  is  almost  as  foolish  as  the  other. 
Yes,  I  '11  tell  my  aunt  of  you,  and  then  you  will  see." 

**What  a  boa!     How  horrid  spaiteful  you  are." 

"Well,  I  am  rather  vindictive.  But  my  aunt  is  ten 
times  worse,  as  her  deserter  shall  find  —  unless " 

"Unless  whawt.?" 

"Unless  you  beg  my  pardon  directly." 

And  at  this  part  of  the  conversation  Lucy  was  fain 
to  turn  her  head  away,  for  she  found  it  getting  difficult 
to  maintain  that  severe  countenance  which  she  thought 
necessary  to  clothe  her  words  with  terror,  and  subju- 
gate the  gallant  captain. 

"Well,  then,    I  apolojaize,"  said  Kenealy. 

"And  I  accept  your  apology,  and  don't  do  it  again!" 

"I  won't,  pon  honaa.  Look  heaa.  I  swear  I 
didn't  mean  to  affront  yah;  I  don't  waunt  yah  to 
mayrry  me;  I  only  poposed  out  of  civility." 

"Come,  then,  it  was  not  so  black  as  it  appeared. 
Courtesy  is  a  good  thing;  and  if  you  thought  that,  after 
staying  a  month  in  a  house,  you  were  bound  by  etiquette 
to  propose  to  the  marriageable  part  of  it,  it  is  pardon- 
able, only  don't  do  it  again,  please," 

"I  '11  take  caa  —  I  '11  take  caa.  I  say  your  tempaa 
is  not  —  quite  —  what  those  other  fools  think  it  is  — 
no,  by  Jove,  and  the  captain  glared. 

"Nonsense;  I  am  only  a  little  fiendish  on  this  one 
point.  Well,  then,  steer  clear  of  it,  and  you  will  find  me 
a  good  crechaa  on  every  other." 

Kenealy  vowed  he  would  profit  by  the  advice. 

"Then,  there  is  my  hand;  we  are  friends  again." 

"You  won't  tell  your  aunt,  nor  the  other  fellaas .?" 


LOVE  ME  LONG  467 

'*  Captain  Kenealy,  I  am  not  one  of  your  garrison 
ladies.  I  am  a  young  person  who  has  been  educated. 
Your  extra  civility  will  never  be  known  to  a  soul,  and 
you  shall  not  join  the  army,  but  as  a  volunteer." 

**Then,  hang  me,  Miss  Fountain,  if  I  would  n't  be 
cut  in  pieces  to  oblaige  you;  just  you  tray  me  and  you'll 
faind,  if  I  am  not  very  braight,  I  am  a  man  of  honah. 
If  those  other  begaas  annoy  you,  jaast  tell  me,  and  I'll 
parade  'em  at  twelve  paces,  dem  me." 

*'I  must  try  and  find  some  less  insane  vent  for  your 
friendly  feelings;  and  what  can  I  do  for  you .?" 

"Yah  could  n't  go  on  pretending  to  be  spooney  on 
me,  could  yah.?" 

**Oh,  no,  no!     What  for?" 

"I  laike  it;  makes  the  other  begaas  misable." 

"What  worthy  sentiments!  it  is  a  sin  to  balk  them. 
I  am  sure  there  is  no  reason  why  I  should  not  appear 
to  adore  you  in  public,  so  long  as  you  let  me  keep  my 
distance  in  private;  but  persons  of  my  sex  cannot  do 
just  what  they  would  like.  We  have  feelings  that  pull 
us  this  way  and  that,  and,  after  all  this,  I  am  afraid  I 
shall  never  have  the  courage  to  play  those  pranks  again ; 
and  that  is  a  pity,  since  it  amused  you,  and  teased  those 
that  tease  me." 

In  short,  the  house  now  contained  two  '*holv  alii- 
ances"  instead  of  one.  Unfortunately  for  Lucy  the 
hostile  one  was  by  far  the  stronger  of  the  two;  and 
even  now  it  was  preparing  a  terrible  coup.  This  even- 
ing the  storm  that  was  preparing  blew  good  to  one 
of  a  depressed  class,  which  cannot  fail  to  gratify  the 
just. 

Mrs,  Bazalgette,  *'Jane,  come  to  my  room  a 
minute,  I  have  something  for  you.     Here  is  a  cashmere 


468  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

gown  and  cloak;  the  cloak  I  want,  I  can  wear  it  with 
anything,  but  you  may  have  the  gown." 

'*Oh,  thank  you,  mum,  it  is  beautiful,  and  a'most 
as  good  as  new.  I  am  sure,  mum,  I  am  very  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  kindness." 

"No,  no,  you  are  a  good  girl,  and  a  sensible  girl. 
By-the-by,  you  might  give  me  your  opinion  upon  some- 
thing. Does  Miss  Lucy  prefer  any  one  of  our  guests .? 
you  understand  me." 

"Well,  mum,  it  is  hard  to  say.  Miss  Lucy  is  as 
reserved  as  ever." 

"Oh,  I  thought  she  might  —  humph!" 

"No,  mum,  I  do  assure  you,  not  a  word." 

"Well,  but  you  are  a  shrewd  girl.  Tell  me  what 
you  think.  Now,  for  instance,  suppose  she  was  com- 
pelled to  choose  between,  say  Mr.  Hardie  and  Mr. 
Talboys,  which  would  it  he?" 

"Well,  mum,  if  you  ask  my  opinion,  I  don't  think 
Miss  Lucy  is  the  one  to  marry  a  fool ;  and  by  all  accounts 
there 's  a  deal  more  in  Mr.  Hardies's  head  than  what 
there  is  n't  in  Mr.  Talboysese's." 

"You  are  a  clever  girl.  You  shall  have  the  cloak 
as  well,  and  if  my  niece  marries,  you  shall  remain  in  her 
service  all  the  same." 

"Thank  you  kindly,  mum.  I  don't  desire  no  better 
mistress,  married  or  single,  and  Mr.  Hardies  is  much 
respected  in  the  town,  and  heaps  o'  money;  so  miss  and 
me  we  could  n't  do  no  better,  neither  of  us.  Your 
servant,  mum,  and  thanks  you  for  your  bounty;"  and 
Jane  curtsied  twice  and  went  off  with  the  spoils. 

In  the  corridor  she  met  old  Fountain.  "  Stop  Jane," 
said  he,  "I  want  to  speak  to  you." 

"At  your  service,  sir." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  469 

"In  the  first  place,  I  want  to  give  you  something 
to  buy  a  new  gown,"  and  he  took  out  a  couple  of 
sovereigns.  *' Where  am  I  to  put  them  ?  in  your  breast 
pocket?" 

"Put  them  under  the  cloak,  sir,"  murmured  Jane 
tenderly;  she   loved   sovereigns. 

He  put  his  hand  under  the  heap  of  cashmere,  and 
a  quick  little  claw  hit  the  coins  and  closed  on  them  by 
mighty  instinct. 

"Now,  I  want  to  ask  your  opinion.  Is  my  niece  in 
love  with  any  one.?" 

"Well,  Mr.  Fountains,  if  she  is,  she  don't  show  it." 

"But  does  n't  she  like  one  man  better  than  an- 
other.?" 

"You  may  take  your  oath  of  that,  if  we  could  but 
get  to  her  mind." 

"Wliich  does  she  like  best,  this  Hardie,  or  Mr. 
Talboys  ?  pome,  tell  me  now." 

"Well,  sir,  you  know  Mr.  Talboys  is  an  old  ac- 
quaintance, and  like  brother  and  sister  at  Font  Abbey. 
I  do  suppose  she  have  been  a  score  of  times  alone  with 
him  for  one  with  Mr.  Hardies.  That  she  should  take 
up  with  a  stranger  and  jilt  an  old  acquaintance,  now  is 
it   feasible.?" 

"Why,  of  course  not.  It  was  a  foolish  question; 
you  are  a  young  woman  of  sense.  Here 's  a  £5  note  for 
you,  you  must  not  tell  I  spoke  to  you." 

"Now,  is  it  likely,  sir.?  My  character  would  be 
broken  for  ever." 

"And  you  shall  be  with  my  niece  when  she  is  Mrs. 
Talboys." 

"I  might  do  worse  sir,  and  so  might  she.  He  is 
respected  far  and  wide,   and  a  grand  house,   and  a 


470  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

carriage-and-four,  and  everything  to  make  a  lady 
comfortable.  Your  servant,  sir,  and  wishes  you  many 
thanks." 

"And  such  as  Jane  was,  all  true  servants  are." 

The  ancients  used  to  bribe  the  oracle  of  Delphi. 
Curious. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

Lucy's  twenty-first  birthday  dawned.  But  it  was  not 
to  her  the  gay  exulting  day  it  is  to  some.  Last  night 
her  uncle  and  aunt  had  gone  a  step  farther,  and, 
instead  of  kissing  her  ceremoniously,  had  evaded  her. 
They  were  drawing  matters  to  a  climax:  once  of  age, 
each  day  would  make  her  more  independent  in  spirit 
as  in  circumstances.  This  morning  she  hoped  custom 
would  shield  her  from  unkindness  for  one  day  at  least. 
But  no,  they  made  it  clear  there  was  but  one  road  back 
to  their  smiles.  Their  congratulations  at  the  break- 
fast-table were  cold  and  constrained;  her  heart  fell; 
and  long  before  noon  on  her  birthday  she  was  crying. 
Thus  weakened  she  had  to  encounter  a  thoroughly- 
prepared  attack.  Mr.  Bazalgette  summoned  her  to  his 
study  at  one  o'clock,  and  there  she  found  him,  and  Mrs. 
Bazalgette,  and  Mr.  Fountain,  seated  solemnly  in  con- 
clave.    The  merchant  was  adding  up  figures. 

**Come  now,  business,"  said  he.  '*Dick  has  added 
them.  His  figures  are  in  that  envelope;  break  the  seal 
and  open  it,  Lucy.  If  his  total  corresponds  with  mine, 
we  are  right;  if  not,  I  am  wrong,  and  you  will  all  have 
to  go  over  it  with  me  till  we  are  right."  A  general 
groan  followed  this  announcement.  Luckily,  the  sums 
total  corresponded  to  a  fraction. 

Then  Mr.  Bazalgette  made  Lucy  a  little  speech. 

"My  dear,  in  laying  down  that  oflSce,  which  your 
amiable  nature  has  made  so  agreeable,  I  feel  a  natural 
regret  on  your  account,  that  the  property  my  colleague 

471 


472  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

there,  and  I,  have  had  to  deal  with  on  your  account, 
has  not  been  more  important.  However,  as  far  as  it 
goes,  we  have  been  fortunate.  Consols  have  risen 
amazingly,  since  we  took  you  off  land,  and  funded  you. 
The  rise  in  value  of  your  little  capital  since  your  mother's 
death  is  calculated  on  this  card.  You  have  also  some 
loose  cash,  which  I  will  hand  over  to  you  immediately. 
Let  me  see,  eleven  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  and  five 
shillings.  Write  your  name  in  full  on  that  paper, 
Lucy." 

He  touched  a  bell;  a  servant  came.  He  wrote  a 
line,  and  folded  it  enclosing  Lucy's  signature. 

''Let  this  go  to  Mr.  Hardie's  bank  immediately. 
Hardie  will  give  you  three  per  cent,  for  your  money. 
Better  than  nothing.  You  must  have  a  cheque-book. 
He  sent  me  a  new  one  yesterday.  Here  it  is;  you  shall 
have  it.  I  wonder  whether  you  know  how  to  draw  a 
cheque.'^" 

"No,  uncle." 

*'Look  here,  then.  You  note  the  particulars  first 
on  this  counterfoil,  which  thus  serves  in  some  degree  for 
an  account-book.  In  drawing  the  cheque,  place  the 
sum  in  letters  close  to  these  printed  words,  and  the  sum 
in  figures  close  to  the  £.  For  want  of  this  precaution 
the  holder  of  the  cheque  has  been  known  to  turn  a  £10 
cheque  into  <£110." 

"Oh!  how  wicked!" 

"No.  Dexterous.  Dexterity  is  the  one  virtue  left 
in  England;  so  we  must  be  on  our  guard,  especially  in 
what  we  write  with  our  name  attached." 

"I  must  say,  Mr.  Bazalgette,  you  are  unwise  to  put 
such  a  sum  as  that  into  a  young  girl's  hands." 

"The  young  girl  has  been  a  woman  an  hour  and  ten 


LOVE  ME  LONG  473 

minutes,  and  come  into  her  property,  movables,  and 
cash  aforesaid." 

*'If  you  were  her  real  friend  you  would  take  care  of 
her  money  for  her,  till  she  marries." 

"The  eighth  commandment,  my  dear,  the  eighth 
commandment,  and  other  primitive  axioms;  smim 
cuique,  and  such  odd  sayings; '  him  as  keeps  what  is  n't 
his  'n,  soon  or  late  shall  go  to  prison,'  with  similar 
apothegms.  Total,  let  us  keep  the  British  merchant  and 
the  Newgate  thief  as  distinct  as  the  times  permit. 
Fountain  and  Bazalgette,  account  squared;  books 
closed;  and  I'm  off." 

**Oh,  uncle:  pray  stay!"  said  Lucy.  "When  you 
are  by  me,  rectitude  and  sense  seem  present  in  person, 
and  I  can  lean  on  them." 

"Lean  on  yourself;  the  law  has  cut  your  leading- 
strings  ;  why  patch  'em  ?  it  has  made  you  a  woman  from 
a  baby:  rise  to  your  new  rank.     Rectitude  and  sense 

are  just  as  much  wanted  in  the  town  of ,  where  I 

am  due,  as  they  are  in  this  house.  Besides,  sense  has 
spoken  uninterrupted  for  ten  minutes  —  prodigious !  so 
now  it  is  nonsense's  turn  for  the  next  ten  hours."  He 
made  for  the  door,  then  suddenly  returning,  he  said,  "I 
will  leave  a  grain  of  sense,  etc.,  behind  me.  What  is 
marriage .?  Do  you  give  it  up.^  Marriage  is  a  con- 
tract. Who  are  the  parties?  the  papas  and  mammas, 
uncles  and  aunts  .^  by  George,  you  would  think  so  to 
hear  them  talk.  No,  the  contract  is  between  two 
parties,  and  these  two  only.  It  is  a  printed  contract. 
Anybody  can  read  it,  gratis.  None  but  idiots  sign  a 
contract  without  reading  it;  none  but  knaves  sign  a 
contract,  which,  having  read,  they  find  they  cannot 
execute.     Matrimony  is  a  mercantile  affair;  very  well; 


474  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

then,  import  into  it  sound  mercantile  morality.  Go  to 
market;  sell  well;  but  d — n  it  all,  deliver  the  mer- 
chandise as  per  sample;  viz.,  a  woman  warranted  to 
love,  honour,  and  obey  the  purchaser.  If  you  swindle 
the  other  contracting  party  in  the  essentials  of  the  con- 
tract, don't  complain  when  you  are  unhappy.  Are 
shufflers  entitled  to  happiness  ?  and  what  are  those  who 
shuffle  and  prevaricate  in  a  church  any  better  than  those 
who  shuffle  and  prevaricate  in  a  counting-house  .^ "  and 
the  brute  bolted. 

**My  husband  is  a  worthy  man,"  said  Mrs.  Bazal- 
gette  languidly;  **and  makes  one  blush  for  him." 

**Our  good  friend  is  a  humorist,"  replied  Fountain 
good  humouredly,  "and  dearly  loves  a  paradox";  and 
they  pooh-poohed  him  without  a  particle  of  malice. 

Then  Mrs.  Bazalgette  turned  to  Lucy  and  hoped 
that  she  did  her  the  justice  to  believe  she  had  none  but 
affectionate  motives  in  wishing  to  see  her  speedily 
established. 

** Oh,  no !  aunt,"  said  Lucy.  "Why  should  you  wish 
to  part  with  me  ?  I  give  but  little  trouble  in  your  great 
house." 

"Trouble,  child.?  you  know  you  are  a  comfort  to 
have  in  any  house." 

This  pleased  Lucy;  it  was  the  first  gracious  word  for 
a  long  time.  Having  thus  softened  her,  Mrs.  Bazalgette 
proceeded  to  attack  her  by  all  the  weaknesses  of  her  sex 
and  age,  and  for  a  good  hour  pressed  her  so  hard  that 
the  tears  often  gushed  from  Lucy's  eyes,  over  her  red 
cheeks.  The  girl  was  worn  by  the  length  of  the  struggle, 
and  the  pertinacity  of  the  assault.  She  was  as  deter- 
mined as  ever  to  do  nothing;  but  she  had  no  longer  the 
power  to  resist  in  words.     Seeing  her  reduced  to  silence. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  475 

and  not  exactly  distinguishing  between  impassibility 
and  yielding,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  delivered  the  coup- 
de-grace, 

"I  must  now  tell  you  plainly,  Lucy,  that  your  char- 
acter is  compromised  by  being  out  all  night  with  per- 
sons of  the  other  sex.  I  would  have  spared  you  this, 
but  your  resistance  compels  those  who  love  you  to  tell 
you  all.  Owing  to  that  unfortunate  trip,  you  are  in 
such  a  situation  that  you  must  marry." 

"The  world  is  surely  not  so  unjust  as  all  this," 
sighed  Lucy. 

"You  don't  know  the  world  as  I  do,"  was  the  reply. 
"And  those  who  live  in  it  cannot  defy  it.  I  tell  you 
plainly,  Lucy,  neither  your  uncle  nor  I  can  keep  you 
any  longer,  except  as  an  engaged  person.  And  even 
that  engagement  ought  to  be  a  very  short  one." 

"What,  aunt }  what,  uncle  ?  your  house  is  no  longer 
mine .?"  and  she  buried  her  head  upon  the  table. 

"Well,  Lucy,"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  "of  course  we 
would  not  have  told  you  this  yesterday.  It  would  have 
been  ungenerous.  But  you  are  now  your  own  mis- 
tress; you  are  independent.  Young  persons  in  your 
situation  can  generally  forget  in  a  day  or  two  a  few  years 
of  kindness.  You  have  now  an  opportunity  of  showing 
us  whether  you  are  one  of  that  sort." 

Here  Mrs.  Bazalgette  put  in  her  word. 

"You  will  not  lack  people  to  encourage  you  in  in- 
gratitude; perhaps  my  husband  himself.  But  if  he  does, 
it  will  make  a  lasting  breach  between  him  and  me,  of 
which  you  will  have  been  the  cause." 

"Heaven  forbid!"  said  Lucy,  with  a  shudder. 
"WTiy  should  dear  Mr.  Bazalgette  be  drawn  into  my 
troubles.?     He  is  no  relation  of  mine;  only  a  loyal 


476  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

friend,  whom,  may  God  bless  and  reward  for  his  kindness 
to  a  poor  fatherless,  motherless  girl.  Aunt,  uncle,  if 
you  will  let  me  stay  with  you  I  will  be  more  kind,  more 
attentive  to  you  than  I  have  been.  Be  persuaded;  be 
advised.  If  you  succeeded  in  getting  rid  of  me,  you 
might  miss  me,  indeed  you  might.  I  know  all  your 
little  ways  so  well." 

**Lucy,  we  are  not  to  be  tempted  to  do  wrong,"  said 
Mrs.  Bazalgette  sternly.  *' Choose  which  of  these  two 
offers  you  will  accept.  Choose  which  you  please.  If 
you  refuse  both,  you  must  pack  up  your  things,  and  go 
and  live  by  yourself,  or  with  Mr.  Dodd." 

**Mr.  Dodd.^  why  is  his  name  introduced.?  was  it 
necessary  to  insult  me.?"  and  her  eyes  flashed. 

''Nobody  wishes  to  insult  you,  Lucy.  And  I  pro- 
pose, madam,  we  give  her  a  day  to  consider." 

"Thank  you,  uncle." 

"With  all  my  heart;  only,  until  she  decides  she 
must  excuse  me  if  I  do  not  treat  her  with  the  same 
affection  as  I  used,  and  as  I  hope  to  do  again.  I  am 
deeply  wounded,  and  I  never  could  feign." 

"You  need  not  fear  me,  aunt;  my  heart  is  turned  to 
ice.  I  shall  never  intrude  that  love  on  which  you  set 
no  value.     May  I  retire .?" 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  looked  to  Mr.  Fountain,  and  both 
bowed  acquiescence.  Lucy  went  out,  pale  but  dry 
eyed;  despair  never  looked  so  lovely,  nor  carried  its 
head  more  proudly. 

" I  don't  like  it,"  said  Mr.  Fountain,  "I  am  afraid  we 
have  driven  the  poor  girl  too  hard." 

"What  are  you  afraid  of,  pray.?" 

"She  looked  to  me  just  like  a  girl  who  would  go  and 
take  an  ounce  of  laudanum.     Poor  Lucy !  she  has  been 


LOVE  ME  LONG  477 

a  good  niece  to  me  after  all;"  and  the  water  stood  in  the 
old  bachelor's  eyes. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  and 
said  archly,  but  with  a  tone  that  carried  conviction: 
**  She  will  take  no  poison.  She  will  hate  us  for  an  hour, 
then  she  will  have  a  good  cry;  to-morrow  she  will  come 
to  our  terms,  and  this  day  next  year  she  will  be 
very  much  obliged  to  us  for  doing  what  all  women  like, 
forcing  her  to  her  good  with  a  little  harshness." 


CHAPTER   XXV 

Said  Lucy  as  she  went  from  the  door,  *' Thank  Heaven 
they  have  insulted  me!" 

This  does  not  sound  logical ;  but  that  is  only  because 
the  logic  is  so  subtle  and  swift.  She  meant  something 
of  this  kind,  *'I  am  of  a  yielding  nature,  I  might  have 
sacrificed  myself  to  retain  their  affection ;  but  they  have 
roused  a  vice  of  mine,  my  pride,  against  them,  so  now 
I  shall  be  immovable  in  right,  thanks  to  my  wicked 
pride.  Thank  Heaven  they  have  insulted  me!"  She 
then  laid  her  head  upon  her  bed  and  moaned,  for  she 
was  stricken  to  the  heart.  Then  she  rose  and  wrote  a 
hasty  note,  and  putting  it  in  her  bosom,  came  down- 
stairs and  looked  for  Captain  Kenealy.  He  proved  to 
be  in  the  billiard-room,  playing  the  spotted  ball  against 
the  plain  one.  **Oh,  Captain  Kenealy,  I  am  come  to 
try  your  friendship  —  you  said  I  might  command 
you." 

"Yaas!" 

"Then  will  you  mount  my  pony  and  ride  with  this 
to  Mrs.  Wilson,  to  that  farm  where  I  kept  you  waiting 
so  long,  and  you  were  not  angry,  as  any  one  else  would 
have  been.^" 

"Yaas!" 

"But  not  a  soul  must  see  it,  or  know  where  you  are 
gone." 

"All  raight.  Miss  Fountain.  Don't  you  be  fraight- 
ened,  I  'm  close  as  the  grave,  and  I  '11  be  there  in  less 
than  haelf-an-hour." 

478 


LOVE  ME  LONG  479 

"Yes,  but  don't  hurt  my  dear  pony  either;  don't 
beat  him,  and  above  all,  don't  come  back  without  an 
answer." 

"I'll  bring  you  an  answer  in  an  hour  and  twenty 
minutes."  The  captain  looked  at  his  watch,  and  went 
out  with  a  smartness  that  contrasted  happily  with  his 
slowness  of  speech. 

Lucy  went  back  to  her  own  room  and  locked  herself 
in,  and  with  trembling  hands  began  to  pack  up  her 
jewels  and  some  of  her  clothes.  But  when  it  came  to  this, 
wounded  pride  was  sorely  taxed  by  a  host  of  remi- 
niscences and  tender  regrets;  and  every  now  and  then 
the  tears  suddenly  gushed  and  fell  upon  her  poor  hands, 
as  she  put  things  out,  or  patted  them  flat,  to  wander  in 
the  world. 

While  she  is  thus  sorrowfully  employed,  let  me  try 
and  give  an  outline  of  the  feelings  that  had  now  for  some 
time  been  secretly  growing  in  her,  since  without  their 
cooperation  she  would  never  have  been  driven  to  the 
strange  step  she  now  meditated. 

Lucy  was  a  very  unselfish  and  very  intelligent  girl. 
The  first  trait  had  long  blinded  her  to  something;  the 
second  had  lately  helped  to  open  her  eyes. 

If  ever  you  find  a  person  quick  to  discover  selfishness 
in  others,  be  sure  that  person  is  selfish ;  for  it  is  only 
the  selfish  who  come  into  habitual  collision  with  selfish- 
ness, and  feel  how  sharp-pointed  a  thing  it  is.  When 
Unselfish  meets  Selfish,  each  acts  after  his  kind; 
Unselfish  gives  way.  Selfish  holds  his  course;  and  so 
neither  is  thwarted,  and  neither  finds  out  the  other's 
character. 

Lucy,  then,  of  herself,  would  never  have  discovered 
her  relatives'  egotism.     But  they  helped  her;  and  she 


480  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

was  too  bright  not  to  see  anything  that  was  properly 
pointed  out  to  her. 

When  Fountain  kept  showing  and  proving  Mrs. 
Bazalgette's  egotism,  and  Mrs.  Bazalgette  kept  showing 
and  proving  Mr.  Fountain's  egotism,  Lucy  ended  by 
seeing  both  their  egotisms  as  clearly  as  either  could 
desire;  and,  as  she  despised  egotism,  she  lost  her  re- 
spect for  both  these  people,  and  let  them  convince  her 
they  were  both  persons  against  whom  she  must  be  on 
her  guard. 

This  was  the  direct  result  of  their  mines  and  counter- 
mines —  but  not  the  only  result.  It  followed  indirectly, 
but  inevitably,  that  the  present  holy  alliance  failed. 
Lucy  had  not  forgotten  the  past;  and  to  her  this 
seemed  not  a  holy,  but  an  unholy,  hollow,  and  empty 
alliance. 

"They  hate  one  another,"  said  she;  "but  it  seems 
they  hate  me  worse,  since  they  can  hide  their  mutual 
dislike  to  combine  against  poor  me." 

Another  thing:  Lucy  was  one  of  those  women  who 
thirst  for  love,  and  though  not  vain  enough  to  be  always 
showing  they  think  they  ought  to  be  beloved,  have 
quite  secret  amour  propre  enough  to  feel  at  the  bottom 
of  their  hearts,  that  they  were  sent  here  to  that  end, 
and  that  it  is  a  folly  and  a  shame  not  to  love  them 
more  or  less. 

If  ever  Madame  Ristori  plays  "Maria  Stuarda" 
within  a  mile  of  you,  go  and  see  her.  Don't  chatter, 
you  can  do  that  at  home;  attend  to  the  scene.  The 
worst  play  ever  played  is  not  so  unimproving  as  chit- 
chat. Then,  when  the  scaffold  is  even  now  erected, 
and  the  poor  queen,  pale  and  tearful,  palpitates  in 
death's  grasp,  you  shall  see  her  suddenly  illumined  with 


LOVE  ME  LONG  481 

a  strange  joy,  and  hear  her  say,  with  a  marvellous  burst 
of  feminine  triumph — 

"I  have  been  amata  moUoII!** 

Uttered  under  a  scaffold,  as  the  Italian  utters  it,  this  line 
is  a  revelation  of  womanhood. 

The  English  virgin  of  our  humbler  tale  had  a  soul 
full  of  this  feeling,  only  she  had  never  learned  to  set  the 
love  of  sex  above  other  loves;  but,  mark  you,  for  that 
very  reason,  a  mortal  insult  to  her  heart  from  her  be- 
loved relatives  was  as  mortifying,  humiliating,  and  un- 
pardonable as  is,  to  other  high-spirited  girls,  an  insult 
from  their  favoured  lover. 

WTiat  could  she  do  more  than  she  had  done  to 
win  their  love.?  No!  their  hearts  were  inaccessible 
to  her. 

"They  wish  to  get  rid  of  me.  Well,  they  shall. 
They  refuse  me  their  houses;  well,  I  will  show  them  the 
value  of  their  houses  to  me.  It  was  their  hearts  I  clung 
to,  not  their  houses." 

A  tap  came  to  Lucy's  door. 

"Who  is  that?     I  am  busy." 

"Oh,  miss!"  said  an  agitated  voice,  "may  I  speak 
to  you  ?  —  the  captain!" 

"What  captain.?"  inquired  Lucy,  without  opening 
the  door. 

"Knealys,  miss." 

"  I  will  come  out  to  you.  Now.  Has  Captain  Kenealy 
returned  already.?" 

"La!  No,  miss.  He  haven't  been  anywhere  as  I 
know  of.  He  had  them  about  him  as  could  n't  spare 
him." 


482  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Something  is  the  matter,  Jane.     What  is  it?" 
Jane  lowered  her  voice  mysteriously.     "Well,  miss, 
the  captain  is  —  in  trouble." 

"Oh  dear!  what  has  happened.^" 
"Well,  the  fact  is,  miss,  the  captain's  —  took." 
"  I  cannot  understand  you.    Pray  speak  intelligibly." 
"Arrested,  miss." 

"Captain  Kenealy  arrested!  Oh,  Heaven!  for  what 
crime  ? 

"La,  miss!  no  crime  at  all.  Leastways  not  so  con- 
sidered by  the  gentry.  He  is  only  took  in  payment  of 
them  beautiful  reg-mentals.  However,  black  or  red, 
he  is  always  well  put  on,  I  am  sure  he  looks  just  out  of  a 
band-box ;  and  I  got  it  all  out  of  one  of  the  men  as  it 's 
a  army  tailor,  which  he  wrote  again  and  again,  and  sent 
his  bill,  and  the  captain  he  took  no  notice.  Then  the 
tailor  he  sent  him  a  writ,  and  the  captain  he  took  no 
notice;  then  the  tailor  he  lawed  him;  but  the  captain 
he  kep '  on  a  taking  no  more  notice  nor  if  it  was  a  dog  a 
barking,  and  then  a  putting  all  them  ere  barks  one  after 
another  in  a  letter,  and  sending  ^hem  by  the  post.  So 
the  end  is,  the  captain  is  arrested,  and  now  he  behoves 
to  attend  a  bit  to  what  is  a  going  on  around  an  about 
him,  as  the  saying  is;  and  so  he  is  waiting  to  pay  you 
his  respects,  before  he  starts  for  Bridewell." 
"  My  fatal  advice!  I  ruin  all  my  friends." 
"  *Keep  dark!'  says  he;  'don't  tell  a  soul,  except 
Miss  Fountain.'  " 

"  Where  is  he  ?  Oh." 

Jane  offered  to  show  her  that,  and  took  her  to  the 
stable-yard.  Arriving  with  a  face  full  of  tender  pity 
and  concern,  Lucy  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  find  the 
victim  smoking  cigars  in  the  centre  of  his  smoking 


LOVE  ME  LONG  483 

captors.  The  men  touched  their  hats,  and  Captain 
Kenealy  said,  ''Isn't  it  a  boa.  Miss  Fountain?  they 
won't  let  me  do  your  little  commission.  In  London 
they  will  go  anywhere  with  a  fellow." 

''London  ve  knows,"  explained  the  assistant,  "but 
this  here  is  full  of  hins  and  houts,  and  folyidge." 

"Oh,  sir,"  cried  Lucy,  to  the  best-dressed  captor, 
"surely  you  will  not  be  so  cruel  as  to  take  a  gentleman 
like  Captain  Kenealy  to  a  prison .?" 

"Very  sorry,  marm,  but  we  ave  no  hoption;  takes 
'em  every  day,  don't  we.  Bill.?" 

Bill  nodded. 

"But,  sir,  as  it  is  only  for  money,  can  you  not  be 
induced  by  —  by  —  money " 

"Bill,  lady's  going  to  pay  the  debtancosts.     Show 
her  the  ticket.     Debt  eighty  pund,  costs  seven  pund    I 
eighteen  six." 

"What,  will  you  liberate  him  if  I  pay  you  eighty- 
eight  pounds.?" 

"Well,  marm,  to  oblige  you  we  will;  won't  we. 
Bill.?"     He  winked.     Bill  nodded. 

"Then,  pray,  stay  here  a  minute,  and  this  shall  be 
arranged  to  your  entire  satisfaction";  and  she  glided 
swiftly  away,  followed  by  Jane,  wriggling. 

"Quite  the  lady.  Bill." 

Kevite.  Capt'n  is  in  luck.  Hare  ve  to  be  at  the 
vedding,  cap'n.?" 

"Dem  your  impudence!  I'll  cross-buttock  yah." 

"Hold  your  tongue.  Bill  —  queering  a  gent!  Draw 
it  mild,  captain.  Debtancosts  ain't  paid  yet.  Here 
they  come,  though,  " 

Lucy  returned  swiftly,  holding  aloft  a  slip  of  paper. 
"There,  sir,  that  is  a  cheque  for  X90;  it  is  the  same  thing 


484  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

as  money,  you  are  doubtless  aware."  The  man  took 
it,  and  inspected  it  keenly. 

"Very  sorry,  marm,  but  can't  take  it.  It  is  a  lady's 
cheque." 

"What,  is  it  not  written  properly.^" 

"Beautiful,  marm.  But  when  we  takes  these 
beautiful-wrote  cheques  to  the  bank,  the  cry  is  always, 
*  No  assets.' " 

"But  Uncle  Bazalgette  said  everybody  would  give 
me  money  for  it." 

"What,  is  Mr.  Bazalgette  your  uncle,  marm.? 
then  you  go  to  him  and  get  his  cheque  in  place  of 
yours,  and  the  captain  will  be  free  as  the  birds  in 
the  hair." 

"Oh!  thank  you,  sir,"  cried  Lucy,  and  the  next 
minute  she  was  in  Mr.  Bazalgette's  study.  "Uncle, 
don't  be  angry  with  me;  it  is  for  no  unworthy  purpose; 
only  don't  ask  me,  it  might  mortify  another;  but  would 
you  give  me  a  cheque  of  your  own  for  mine  ?  They  will 
not  receive  mine." 

Mr.  Bazalgette  looked  grave,  and  even  sad;  but  he 
sat  quietly  down  without  a  word,  and  drew  her  a  cheque, 
taking  hers,  which  he  locked  in  his  desk.  The  tears 
were  in  Lucy's  eyes  at  his  gravity  and  his  delicacy. 
"Some  day  I  will  tell  you,"  said  she.  "I  have  nothing 
to  reproach  myself,  indeed,  indeed." 

"Make  the  rogue  —  or  jade  — give  you  a  receipt," 
groaned  Bazalgette. 

"All  right,  marm,  this  time.  Captain,  the  world 
it 's  hall  before  you  where  to  chewse.  But  this  is  for 
ninety,  marm,"  and  he  put  his  hand  very  slowly  into  his 
pocket. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  485 

Do  me  the  favour  to  keep  the  rest  for  your  trouble. 


sir." 


"Trouble's  a  pleasure,  marm.  It  is  not  often  we 
gets  a  tip  for  taking  a  gent.  We  are  funk  shin  hairies 
as  is  not  depreciated,  marm,  and  the  more  genteel 
we  takes  'em  the  rougher  they  cuts;  and  the  very 
women  no  more  like  you  nor  dark  to  light,  but  flies  at 
us  like  ryal  Bengal  tigers,  through  taking  of  us  for  the 
creditors." 

**Verehas  ve  hare  honly  servants  of  the  ke  veen," 
suggested  No.  2,  hashing  his  mistress's  English. 

**Stow  your  gab.  Bill,  and  mizzle!  Let  the  captain 
thank  the  lady.     Good-day,  marm." 

"Oh!  my  poor  friend!  what  language!  and  my  ill 
advice  threw  you  into  their  company." 

Captain  Kenealy  told  her,  in  his  brief  way,  that  the 
circumstance  was  one  of  no  import,  except  in  so  far  as 
it  had  impeded  his  discharge  of  his  duty  to  her.  He  then 
mounted  the  pony  which  had  been  waiting  for  him  more 
than  half-an-hour. 

"But  it  is  five  o'clock,"  said  Lucy,  "you  will  be  too 
late  for  dinner." 

"Dinner  be  dem — d,"  drawled  the  man  of  action, 
and  rode  off  like  a  flash. 

"It  is  to  be,  then,"  said  Lucy,  and  her  heart  ebbed. 
It  had  ebbed  and  flowed  a  good  many  times  the  last 
hour  or  two. 

Captain  Kenealy  reappeared  in  the  middle  of  dinner. 
Lucy  scanned  his  face,  but  it  was  like  the  outside  of  a 
copy-book,  and  she  was  on  thorns.  Being  too  late,  he 
lost  his  place  near  her  at  dinner,  and  she  could  not  whis- 
per  to  him.     However,   when   the  ladies  retired,   he 


486  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

opened  the  door,  and  Lucy  let  fall  a  word  at  his  feet: 
"Come  up  before  the  rest?" 

Acting  on  this  order,  Kenealy  came  up  and  found 
Lucy  playing  sad  tunes  softly  on  the  piano,  and  Mrs. 
Bazalgette  absent.  She  was  trying  something  on  up- 
stairs. He  gave  Lucy  a  note  from  Mrs.  Wilson.  She 
opened  it,  and  the  joyful  colour  suffused  her  cheek,  and 
she  held  out  her  hand  to  him ;  but  as  she  turned  her  head 
away  mighty  prettily  at  the  same  time,  she  did  not  see 
the  captain  was  proffering  her  a  second  document,  and 
she  was  a  little  surprised  when,  instead  of  a  warm  grasp, 
all  friendship  and  no  love,  a  piece  of  paper  was  shoved 
into  her  delicate  palm.  She  took  it  —  looked  first  at 
Kenealy,  then  at  it,  and  was  sore  puzzled. 

The  document  was  in  Kenealy's  handwriting,  and  at 
first  Lucy  thought  it  must  be  intended  as  a  mere  speci- 
men of  calligraphy,  for  not  only  was  it  beautifully 
written,  but  in  letters  of  various  sizes.  There  were  three 
gigantic  vowels,  I.  O.  IT.  There  were  little  wee  noti- 
fications of  time  and  place,  and  other  particulars  of 
medium  size.  The  general  result  was,  that  Henry 
Kenealy  O'd  Lucy  Fountain  ninety  pound  for  value 
received  per  loan.  Lucy  caught  at  the  meaning. 
"But,  my  dear  friend,"  said  she  innocently,  *'you  mis- 
take. I  did  not  lend  it  you;  I  meant  to  give  it  you. 
Will  you  not  accept  it  ?     Are  we  not  friends  ?" 

"  Much  oblaiged.     Could  n't  do  it.     Dishonable." 

"  Oh,  pray,  do  not  let  me  wound  your  pride.  I  know 
what  it  is  to  ha,ve  one's  pride  wounded  —  call  it  a  loan  if 
you  wish.    But,  dear  friend,  what  am  I  to  do  with  this  .^  " 

"When  you  want  the  money,  order  your  man  of 
business  to  present  it  to  me,  and,  if  I  don't  pay,  lock  me 
up,  for  I  shall  deserve  it." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  487 

"I  think  I  understand.  This  is  a  memorandum: 
a  sort  of  reminder." 

**Yaas." 

"Then,  clearly,  I  am  not  the  person  to  whom  it 
should  be  given.  No,  if  you  want  to  be  reminded  of 
this  mighty  matter,  put  this  in  your  own  desk.  If  it 
gets  into  mine,  you  will  never  see  it  again,  I  give  you 
fair  warning  —  there  —  hide  it  —  quick  —  here  they 
come!" 

They  did  come,  all  but  Mr.  Bazalgette,  who  was  at 
work  in  his  study.  Mr.  Talboys  came  up  to  the  piano 
and  said  gravely,  "Miss  Fountain,  are  you  aware  of  the 
fate  of  the  lugger,  of  the  boat  we  went  out  in  .?" 

"Indeed  I  am,  I  have  sent  the  poor  widow  some 
clothes  and  a  little  money." 

"I  have  only  just  been  informed  of  it,"  said  Mr. 
Talboys;  "and  I  feel  under  considerable  obligations  to 
Mr.  Dodd." 

"The  feeling  does  you  credit." 

"Should  you  meet  him,  will  you  do  me  the  honour 
to  express  my  gratitude  to  him.?" 

"I  would,  with  pleasure,  Mr.  Talboys;  but  there  is 
no  chance  whatever  of  my  seeing  Mr.  Dodd.  His 
sister  is  staying  in  Market  Street,  No.  80;  and  if  you 
would  call  on  them,  or  write  to  them,  it  would  be  a  kind- 
ness, and  I  think  they  would  both  feel  it." 

"Humph!"  said  Talboys  doubtfully.  Here  a  ser- 
vant stepped  up  to  Miss  Fountain:  "Master  would  be 
glad  to  see  you  in  his  study,  miss." 

"I  have  got  something  for  you,  Lucy.  I  know  what 
it  is;  so  run  away  with  it,  and  read  it  in  your  own  room, 
for  I  am  busy."     He  handed  her  a  long  sealed  packet. 


488  LOVE  ME  1  [TTLE, 

She  took  it  trembling,  and  flew  to  her  own  room  with  it, 
like  a  hawk  carrying  off  a  little  bird  to  its  nest. 

She  broke  the  enormous  seal,  and  took  out  the 
enclosure.  It  was  David  Dodd's  commission.  He  was 
captain  of  the  Rajah,  the  new  ship  of  eleven  hundred 
tons  burden. 

While  she  gazes  at  it  with  dilating  eye  and  throbbing 
heart,  I  may  as  well  undeceive  the  reader.  This  was 
not  really  effected  in  forty-eight  hours.  Bazalgette 
only  pretended  that,  partly  out  ot  fun,  partly  out  of 
nobility.  Ever  since  a  certain  interview  in  his  study 
with  David  Dodd,  who  was  a  man  after  his  own  heart, 
he  had  taken  a  note,  and  had  worked  for  him  with  **  the 
Company";  for  Bazalgette  was  one  of  those  rare  men 
who  reduce  performance  to  a  certainty  long  before  they 
promise.  His  promises  were  like  pie-crust  —  made  to 
be  eaten,  and  eaten  hot. 

Lucy  came  out  of  her  room,  and  at  the  same  moment 
issued  forth  from  hers  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  in  a  fine  new 
dress.  It  was  that  black  glace  silk,  divested  of  gloom 
by  cheerful  accessories,  in  which  she  had  threatened  to 
mourn  eternally  Lucy's  watery  fate.  Fire  flashed  from 
the  young  lady's  eyes  at  the  sight  of  it.  She  went  down 
to  her  uncle,  muttering  between  her  ivory  teeth,  *'A11 
the  same.  All  the  same."  And  her  heart  flowed.  The 
next  minute,  at  sight  of  Mr.  Bazalgette,  it  ebbed.  She 
came  into  his  room,  saying,  "Oh,  Uncle  Bazalgette! 
it  is  not  to  thank  you  —  that  I  can  never  do  worthily  — 
it  is  to  ask  another  favour.  Do,  pray,  let  me  spend  this 
evening  with  you!  let  me  be  where  you  are.  I  will  be 
as  still  as  a  mouse.  See,  I  have  brought  some  work; 
or,  if  you  would  but  let  me  help  you.  Indeed,  uncle, 
I  am  not  a  fool.     I  am  very  quick  to  learn  at  the  bidding 


LOVE  ME  LONG  489 

of  those  I  love.  Let  me  write  your  letters  for  you,  or 
fold  them  up,  or  direct  them  —  or  something;  do, 
pray." 

'*Oh,  the  caprices  of  young  ladies  ?  Well,  can  you 
write  large  and  plain  ?  —  not  you." 

**I  can  imitate  anything,  or  anybody." 

"Imitate  this  hand  then.  I'll  walk  and  dictate; 
you  sit  and  write." 

'*  Oh,  how  nice." 

*' Delicious!  The  first  is  to  —  Hetherington.  Now, 
Lucy,  this  is  a  dishonest,  ungratetul,  old  rogue,  who  has 
made  thousands  by  me,  and  now  wants  to  let  me  into  a 
mine  with  nothing  in  it  but  water..  It  would  suck  up 
twenty  thousand  pounds  as  easily  as  that  blotting-paper 
would  suck  up  our  signatures." 

"Heartless  traitor!  monster!"  cried  Lucy. 

"Are  you  ready .^" 

"Yes!"  and  her  eye  flashed,  and  the  pen  was  to  her 
a  stiletto. 

Bazalgette  dictated,  "  My  dear  Sir " 

"What!  to  a  cheat.?" 

"  Custom,  child.  I  '11  have  a  stamp  made.  Besides, 
if  we  let  them  see  we  saw  through  them,  they  would 
play  closer  and  closer." 

*My  dear  Sir  —  In  answer  to  yours  of  date  11th 
instant  —  I  regret  to  say  —  that  circumstances  prevent 
—  my  closing  —  with  your  obliging  —  and  friendly 
offer." 

They  wrote  eight  letters,  and  Lucy's  quick  fingers 
folded  up  prospectuses;  and  her  rays  brightened  the 
room.  When  the  work  was  done,  she  clung  round  Mr. 
Bazalgette   and   caressed  him,   and  seemed  strangely 


490  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

unwilling  to  part  with  him  at  all;  in  fact,  it  was  twelve 
o'clock,  and  the  drawing-room  empty,  when  they 
parted. 

At  one  o'clock  the  whole  house  was  dark,  except 
one  room,  and  both  windows  of  that  room  blazed  with 
light.  And  it  happened  there  was  a  spectator  of  this 
phenomenon.  A  man  stood  upon  the  grass  and  eyed 
those  lights  as  if  they  were  the  stars  of  his  destiny. 

It  was  David  Dodd.  Poor  David;  he  had  struck  a 
bargain,  and  was  to  command  a  coasting  vessel,  and 
carry  wood  from  the  Thames  to  our  southern  ports. 
An  irresistible  impulse  brought  him  to  look,  before  he 
sailed,  on  the  place  that  held  the  angel  who  had  de- 
stroyed his  prospects,  and  whom  he  loved  as  much  as 
ever,  though  he  was  too  proud  to  court  a  second  refusal. 

"She  watches,  too,"  thought  David;  **but  it  is  not 
for  me,  as  I  for  her." 

At  half -past  one  the  lights  began  to  dance  before  his 
wearied  eyes;  and  presently  David,  weakened  by  his 
late  fever,  dozed  off  and  forgot  all  his  troubles,  and  slept 
as  sweetly  on  the  grass  as  he  had  often  slept  on  the  hard 
deck  with  his  head  upon  a  gun. 

Luck  was  against  the  poor  fellow.  He  had  not  been 
unconscious  much  more  than  ten  minutes,  when  Lucy's 
window  opened,  and  she  looked  out;  and  he  never  saw 
her.  Nor  did  she  see  him,  for  though  the  moon  was 
bright,  it  was  not  shining  on  him;  he  lay  within  the 
shadow  of  a  tree.  But  Lucy  did  see  something;  a  light 
upon  the  turnpike  road,  about  forty  yards  from  Mr. 
Bazalgette's  gates.  She  slipped  cautiously  down,  a 
bandbox  in  her  hand,  and  unbolting  the  door  that 
opened  on  the  garden,  issued  out,  passed  within  a  few 
yards  of  Dodd,  and  went  round  to  the  front,  and  finally 


LOVE  ME  LONG  491 

reached  the  turnpike  road.  There  she  found  Mrs. 
Wilson,  with  a  light-covered  cart  and  horse,  and  a  lan- 
tern. At  sight  of  her  Mrs.  Wilson  put  out  the  light, 
and  they  embraced;  then  they  spoke  in  whispers. 
**Come,  darling,  don't  tremble;  have  you  got  much 
more?" 

*'Oh,  yes;  several  things." 

*'Look  at  that,  now!  But,  dear  heart,  I  was  the 
same  at  your  age,  and  should  be  now,  like  enough. 
Fetch  them  all,  as  quick  as  you  like.  I  am  feared  to 
leave  Blackbird,  or  I  'd  help  you  down  with  'em." 

"Is  there  nobody  with  you  to  take  care  of  us  .^" 

*'What  do  you  mean .?  —  men  folk.^  Not  if  I 
know  it." 

"You  are  right.  You  are  wise.  Oh!  how  courage- 
ous!" And  she  went  back  for  her  finery.  And  certain 
it  is  she  had  more  baggage  that  I  should  choose  for  a 
forced  march. 

But  all  has  an  end  —  even  a  female  luggage-train; 
so  at  last  she  put  out  all  her  lights  and  came  down, 
stepping  like  a  fairy,  with  a  large  basket  in  her  hand. 

Now,  it  happened  that  by  this  time  the  moon's 
position  was  changed,  and  only  a  part  of  David  lay  in 
the  shade.  His  head  and  shoulders  glittered  in  broad 
moonlight;  and  Lucy,  taking  her  farewell  of  a  house 
where  she  had  spent  many  happy  days,  cast  her  eyes  all 
around  to  bid  good-bye,  and  spied  a  man  lying  within 
a  few  paces,  and  looking  like  a  corpse  in  the  silver  sheen. 
She  dropped  her  basket;  her  knees  knocked  together 
with  fear,  and  she  fled  towards  Mrs.  Wilson.  But  she 
did  not  go  far,  for  the  features,  indistinct  as  they  were  by 
distance  and  pale  light,  struck  her  mind,  and  she 
stopped  and  looked  timidly  over  her  shoulder.     The 


492  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

figure  never  moved.  Then,  with  beating  heart,  she 
went  toward  him  slowly  and  so  stealthily  that  she  would 
have  passed  a  mouse  without  disturbing  it;  and  pres- 
ently she  stood  by  him  and  looked  down  on  him  as  he 
lay. 

And,  as  she  looked  at  him  lying  there,  so  pale,  so 
uncomplaining,  so  placid,  under  her  windows,  this 
silent  proof  of  love,  and  the  thought  of  the  raging  sea 
this  helpless  form  had  steered  her  through,  and  all  he 
had  suffered  as  well  as  acted  for  her,  made  her  bosom 
heave,  and  stirred  all  that  was  woman  within  her.  He 
loved  her  still,  then,  or  why  was  he  here  ?  And  then  the 
thought  that  she  had  done  something  for  him,  too, 
warmed  her  heart  still  more  toward  him.  And  there 
was  nothing  for  her  to  repel  now,  for  he  lay  motionless ; 
there  was  nothing  for  her  to  escape  —  he  did  not  pur- 
sue her;  nothing  to  negative  —  he  did  not  propose  any- 
thing to  her.  Her  instinct  of  defence  had  nothing  to 
lay  hold  of;  so,  woman-like,  she  had  a  strong  impulse  to 
wake  him,  and  be  kind  to  him  —  as  kind  as  she  could 
be  without  committing  herself.  But,  on  the  other  hand, 
shy,  trembling,  virgin  modesty,  and  shame  that  he 
should  detect  her  making  a  midnight  evasion,  and  fear 
of  letting  him  think  she  loved  him.  While  she  stood 
thus,  with  something  drawing  her  on,  and  something 
drawing  her  back,  and  palpitating  in  every  fibre,  Mrs. 
Wilson's  voice  was  heard  in  low  but  anxious  tones  calling 
her.  A  feather  turned  the  balanced  scale.  She  must 
go.  Fate  had  decided  for  her.  She  was  called.  Then 
the  sprites  of  mischief  tempted  her  to  let  David  know 
she  had  been  near  him.  She  longed  to  put  his  com- 
mission into  his  pocket;  but  that  was  impossible,  it  was 
at  the  very  bottom  of  her  box.     She  took  out  her  tablets 


LOVE  ME  LONG  493 

—  wrote  the  word  "Adieu"  —  tore  out  half  the  leaf, 
and,  bending  over  David,  attached  the  little  bit  of  paper 
by  a  pin  to  the  tail  of  his  coat.  If  he  had  been  ever  so 
much  awake  he  could  not  have  felt  her  doing  it;  for 
her  hand  touching  him,  and  the  white  paper  settling  on 
his  coat,  it  was  all  done  as  lights  a  spot  of  down  on  still 
water  from  the  bending  neck  of  a  swan. 

'*No,  dear  Mrs.  Wilson,  we  must  not  go  yet;  I  will 
hold  the  horse;  and  you  must  go  back  for  me  for 
something." 

"I'm  agreeable.     What  is  it.?  —  why,  what  is  up.? 

—  how  you  do  pant!" 

"I  have  made  a  discovery.  There  is  a  gentleman 
lying  asleep  there  on  the  wet  grass." 

"  Lack-a-daisy !  why,  you  don't  say  so." 

"It  is  a  friend;  and  he  will  catch  his  death." 

"\Miy,  of  course  he  will.  He  will  have  had  a  drop 
too  much.  Miss  Lucy.  I  '11  wake  him,  and  we  will  take 
him  along  home  with  us." 

"Oh!  not  for  the  world,  nurse!  I  would  not  have 
him  see  what  I  am  doing,  oh !  not  for  ail  the  world." 

"Where  is  he.?" 

"In  there,  under  the  great  tree." 

"Well,  you  get  into  the  cart,  miss,  and  hold  the 
reins."  And  Mrs.  Wilson  went  into  the  grounds  and 
soon  found  David.  She  put  her  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
and  he  awoke  directly,  and  looked  surprised  at  Mrs. 
Wilson. 

"Are  you  better,  sir .?  "  said  the  good  woman.  "  Why, 
if  it  is  n't  the  handsome  gentleman  that  was  so  kind  to 
me!  Now,  do  ee  go  in,  sir  —  do  ee  go  in.  You  will 
catch  your  death  o'  cold."  She  made  sure  he  was  stay- 
ing at  the  house. 


494  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

David  looked  up  at  Lucy's  windows.  "Yes,  I  will 
go  home,  Mrs.  Wilson ;  there  is  nothing  to  stay  for  now," 
and  he  accompanied  her  to  the  cart.  But  Mrs.  Wilson 
remembered  Lucy's  desire  not  to  be  seen,  so  she  said 
very  loud:  "I  'm  sure  it 's  very  lucky  me  and  my  niece 
happened  to  be  coming  home  so  late,  and  see  you  lying 
there.  Well,  one  good  turn  deserves  another.  Come 
and  see  me  at  my  farm  —  you  go  through  the  village  of 
Harrowden,  and  anybody  there  will  tell  you  where 
Dame  Wilson  do  live.  I  would  ask  you  to-night,  but 
"  she  hesitated,  and  Lucy  let  down  her  veil. 

"No,  thank  you,  not  now;  my  sister  will  be  fretting 
as  it  is.  Good-morning!"  and  his  steps  were  heard 
retreating,  as  Mrs.  Wilson  mounted  the  cart. 

"Well,  I  should  have  liked  to  have  taken  him  home 
and  warmed  him  a  bit,"  said  the  good  woman  to  Lucy; 
"  it  is  enough  to  give  him  the  rheumatics  for  life.  How- 
ever, he  is  not  the  first  honest  man  as  has  had  a  drop  too 
much,  and  taken  's  rest  without  a  feather-bed.  Alack, 
miss !  why,  you  are  all  of  a  tremble !  What  ails  you  ? 
I  'm  a  fool  to  ask.  Ah,  well !  you  '11  soon  be  at  home, 
and  nought  to  vex  you.  That  is  right;  have  a  good  cry, 
do !  Ay !  ay !  'i  is  hard  to  be  forced  to  leave  our  nest. 
But  all  places  are  bright  where  love  abides.  And 
there 's  honest  hearts  both  here  and  there,  and  the  same 
sky  above  us  wherever  we  wander.  And  the  God  of 
the  fatherless  above  all.  And  better  a  peaceful  cottage 
than  a  palace  full  of  strife."  And  with  many  such 
homely  sayings  the  rustic  consoled  her  nursling  on 
their  little  journey  —  nor  quite  in  vain. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

Next  morning  the  house  was  in  an  uproar.  Servants 
ran  to  and  fro;  and  the  fish-pond  was  dragged,  at  Mr. 
Fountain's  request.  But  on  these  occasions  everybody 
claims  a  right  to  speak ;  so  Jane  came  into  the  breakfast- 
room,  and  said:  '*If  you  please,  mum,  Miss  Lucy  is  n't 
in  the  pond;  for  she  have  taken  a  good  part  of  her 
clothes  and  all  her  jewels." 

This  piece  of  common-sense  convinced  everybody 
on  the  spot  except  Mrs.  Bazalgette.  That  lady,  if  she 
had  decided  on  *' making  a  hole  in  the  water,"  would 
have  sat  on  the  bank  first,  and  clapped  on  all  her  jewels, 
and  all  her  richest  dresses,  one  on  the  top  of  another. 
Finally,  Mr.  Bazalgette,  who  wore  a  sombre  air,  and 
had  not  said  a  word,  requested  everybody  to  mind  their 
own  business.  "I  have  a  communication  from  Lucy," 
said  he,  **and  I  do  not  at  present  disapprove  the  step 
she  has  taken." 

All  eyes  turned  with  astonishment  toward  him,  and 
the  next  moment  all  voices  opened  on  him  like  a  pack 
of  hounds.  But  he  declined  to  give  them  any  further 
information.  Between  ourselves,  he  had  none  to  give. 
The  little  note  Lucy  left  on  his  table  merely  begged  him 
to  be  under  no  anxiety,  and  prayed  him  to  suspend  his 
judgment  of  her  conduct  till  he  should  know  the  whole 
case.  It  was  his  strong  good  sense  which  led  him  to 
pretend  he  was  in  the  whole  secret.  By  this  means  he 
substituted  mystery  for  scandal,  and  contrived  that  the 
girl's  folly  might  not  be  irreparable. 

495 


496  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

At  the  same  time  he  was  deeply  indignant  with  her, 
and  above  all,  with  her  hypocrisy  in  clinging  round  him 
and  kissing  him,  the  very  night  she  meditated  flight 
from  his  house. 

"I  must  find  the  girl  out,  and  get  her  back,"  said  he; 
and  directly  after  breakfast  he  collected  his  myrmidons 
and  set  them  to  discover  her  retreat. 

The  outward  frame-work  of  the  holy  alliance 
remained  standing;  but  within  it  was  dissolving  fast. 
Each  of  the  allies  was  even  now  thinking  how  to  find 
Lucy,  and  make  a  separate  peace.  During  the  flutter, 
which  now  subsided,  one  person  had  done  nothing  but 
eat  pigeon-pie. 

It  was  Kenealy,  captain  of  horse. 

Now  eating  pigeon-pie  is  not,  in  itself,  a  suspicious 
act;  but  ladies  are  so  sharp.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  said  to 
herself,  **This  creature  alone  is  not  a  bit  surprised 
(for  Bazalgette  is  fibbing) ;  why  is  this  creature  not  sur- 
prised ?  humph !  Captain  Kenealy,"  said  she,  in  honeyed 
tones,  "what  would  you  advise  us  to  do .?" 

"  Advertaize,"  drawled  the  captain,  as  cool  as  a 
cucumber. 

"Advertise.?     What,  publish  her  name.?" 

"No!  no  names!  I  '11  tell  yah,"  and  he  proceeded  to 
drawl  out  very  slowly,  from  memory,  the  following 
advertisement.  N.  B.  —  The  captain  was  a  great 
reader  of  advertisements,  and  of  little  else. 

"WANDERAA,  RETARN! 

"If  L.  F.  will  retarn  —  to  her  afflicted  —  relatives 
—  she  shall  be  received  with  open  aams  —  all  shall  be 
forgotten  and  forgiven  —  and  reunaited  affection  shall 
solace  every  wound." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  497 

"That  is  the  style.  It  always  brings  'em  back  — 
dayvilish  good  paie,  have  some  moa." 

Mr.  Fountain  and  Mrs.  Bazalgette  raised  an  outcry 
against  the  captain's  advice,  and  when  the  table  was 
calm  again,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  surprised  them  all  by  fixing 
her  eyes  on  Kenealy,  and  saying  quietly,  ''You  know 
where  she  is."  She  added  more  excitedly,  '*Now,  don't 
deny  it!  On  your  honour,  sir,  have  you  no  idea  where 
my  niece  is.?" 

"Upon  my  honah,  I  have  an  idea." 

"Then,  tell  me." 

"I'draythernot." 

"Perhaps  you  would  prefer  to  tell  me  in  private." 

"No;  prefer  not  to  tell  at  all." 

Then  the  whole  table  opened  on  him,  and  appealed 
to  his  manly  feeling,  his  sense  of  hospitality,  his  human- 
ity —  to  gratify  their  curiosity. 

Kenealy  stretched  himself  out  from  the  waist  down- 
wards, and  delivered  himself  thus,  with  a  double  in- 
fusion of  his  drawl. 

"See  yah  all  dem — d  first." 

At  noon  on  the  same  day,  by  the  influence  of  Mrs. 
Bazalgette,  the  British  army  was  swelled  by  Kenealy 
captain  of  horse. 

The  whole  day  passed,  and  Lucy's  retreat  was  not 
yet  discovered.  But  more  than  one  hunter  was  hem- 
ming her  in. 

The  next  day,  being  the  second  after  her  elopement 
with  her  nurse,  at  eleven  in  the  forenoon,  Lucy  and  Mrs.       \ 
Wilson  sat  in  the  little  parlour  working.     Mrs.  Wilson 
had  seen  the  poultry  fed,  the  butter  churned,  and  the 


498  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

pudding  safe  in  the  pot,  and  her  mind  was  at  ease  for  a 
good  hour  to  come,  so  she  sat  quiet  and  peaceful.  Lucy, 
too,  was  at  peace;  her  eye  was  clear,  and  her  colour 
coming  back.  She  was  not  bursting  with  happiness, 
for  there  was  a  sweet  pensiveness  mixed  with  her  sweet 
tranquillity;  but  she  looked  every  now  and  then  smiling 
from  her  work  up  at  Mrs.  Wilson,  and  the  dame  kept 
looking  at  her  with  a  motherly  joy  caused  by  her  bare 
presence  on  that  hearth.  Lucy  basked  in  these  ma- 
ternal glances.     At  last  she  said  — 

''Nurse." 

"My  dear.?" 

"If  you  had  never  done  anything  for  me,  still  I 
should  know  you  love  me." 

"Should  ye,  now.?" 

"Oh  yes!  there  is  the  look  in  your  eye  that  I  used  to 
long  to  see  in  my  poor  aunt's ;  but  it  never  came." 

"Well,  Miss  Lucy,  I  can't  help  it.  To  think  it  is 
really  you  setting  there  by  my  fire.  I  do  feel  like  a  cat 
with  one  kitten.  You  should  check  me;  glaring  you 
out  o'  countenance  like  that." 

"Check  you.?  I  could  not  bear  to  lose  one  glance 
of  that  honest,  tender  eye.  I  would  not  exchange  one 
for  all  the  flatteries  of  the  world.  I  am  so  happy  here, 
so  tranquil,  under  my  nurse's  wing." 

With  this  declaration  came  a  little  sigh. 

Mrs.  Wilson  caught  it.  "Is  there  nothing  wanting, 
dear.?" 

"No." 

"Well,  I  do  keep  wishing  for  one  thing." 

"What  is  that.?" 

"Oh,  I  can't  help  my  thoughts." 

"But  you  can  help  keeping  them  from  me,  nurse." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  499 

"Well,  my  dear,  I  am  like  a  mother,  I  watch  every 
word  of  yours  and  every  look;  and  it  is  my  belief  you 
blind  yourself  a  bit  —  many  a  young  maid  has  done 
that.  I  do  judge  there  is  a  young  man  that  is  more  to 
you  than  you  think  for." 

*'Who  on  earth  is  that,  nurse.?"  asked  Lucy, 
colouring. 

"The  handsome  young  gentleman." 

"Oh,  they  are  all  handsome  —  all  my  pests." 

"The  one  I  found  under  your  window,  Miss  Lucy. 
He  was  n't  in  liquor,  so  what  was  he  there  for  ?  and  you 
know  you  were  not  at  your  ease  till  you  had  made  me 
go  and  wake  him  and  send  him  home,  and  you  were  all 
of  a  tremble.  I  'm  a  widdy  now,  and  can  speak  my 
mind  to  men-folk  all  one  as  women-folk ;  but  I  've  been 
a  maid,  and  I  can  mind  how  I  was  in  those  days.  Lik- 
ing did  use  to  whisper  me  to  do  so  and  so ;  Shyness  up 
and  said,  'La!  not  for  all  the  world;  whatever '11  he 
think.?'  " 

"Oh,  nurse!  do  you  believe  me  capable  of  loving 
one  who  does  not  love  me.?" 

"No.  \Mio  said  he  does  n't  love  you  ?  What  was 
he  there  for .?     I  stick  to  that." 

"Now,  nurse  dear,  be  reasonable;  if  Mr.  Dodd 
loved  me,  would  he  go  to  sleep  in  my  presence .?" 

"Eh!  Miss  Lucy,  the  poor  soul  was  maybe  asleep 
before  you  left  your  room." 

"It  is  all  the  same.  He  slept  while  I  stood  close  to 
him  ever  so  long.  Slept  while  I  —  if  I  loved  anybody 
as  these  gentlemen  pretend  they  love  us,  should  I  sleep 
while  the  being  I  adored  was  close  to  me  ?" 

"  You  are  too  hard  upon  him.  *  The  spirit  is  willing 
but  the  flesh  is  weak.'     Why,  miss,  we  do  read  of 


500  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Eutychus,  how  he  snoozed  off  setting  under  Paul  him- 
self —  up  in  the  windy  —  and  down  a-tumbled.  But 
parson  says  it  was  n't  that  he  did  n't  love  religion,  or 
why  should  Paul  make  it  his  business  to  bring  him  to 
life  again,  'stead  of  lettin'  un  lie  for  a  warning  to  the 
sleepy-headed  ones.  '  T  was  a  wearied  body,  not  a 
heart  cold  to  God,'  says  our  parson." 

*'  Now,  nurse,  I  take  you  at  your  word.  If  Eutychus 
had  been  Eutycha,  and  in  love  with  St.  Paul,  Eutycha 
would  never  have  gone  to  sleep,  though  St.  Paul 
preached  all  day  and  all  night;  and  if  Dorcas  had 
preached  instead  of  St.  Paul,  and  Eutychus  in  love  with 
her,  he  would  never  have  gone  to  sleep,  and  you 
know  it." 

At  this  home  thrust  Mrs.  Wilson  was  staggered;  but 
the  next  moment  her  sense  of  discomfiture  gave  way  to  a 
broad  expression  of  triumph  at  her  nursling's  wit. 

**Eh!  Miss  Lucy,"  cried  she,  showing  a  broadside 
of  great  white  teeth,  in  a  rustic  chuckle,  *'but  ye  've  got 
a  tongue  in  your  head.  Ye  've  sewed  up  my  stocking, 
and  'tis  n't  many  of  'em  can  do  that."  Lucy  followed 
up  her  advantage. 

"And,  nurse,  even  when  he  was  wide  awake  and 
stood  by  the  cart,  no  inward  sentiment  warned  him  of 
my  presence  —  a  sure  sign  he  did  not  love  me.  Though 
I  have  never  experienced  love  I  have  read  of  it,  and 
know  all  about  it."     Jus-iice  des  Femmes! 

"Well,  Miss  Lucy,  have  it  your  own  way;  after  all, 
if  he  loves  you  he  will  find  you  out." 

"Of  course  he  would,  and  you  will  see  he  will  do 
nothing  of  the  kind." 

"Then  I  wish  I  knew  where  he  was;  I  would  pull 
him  in  at  my  door  by  the  scruff  of  the  neck." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  501 

"And  then  I  should  jump  out  at  the  window. 
Come,  try  on  your  new  cap,  nurse,  that  I  have  made 
for  you ;  and  let  us  talk  about  anything  you  like,  except 
gentlemen.  Gentlemen  are  a  sore  subject  with  me. 
Gentlemen  have  been  my  ruin." 

"La,  Miss  Lucy!" 

"I  assure  you  they  have;  why,  have  they  not  set  my 
uncle's  heart  against  me,  and  my  aunt's,  and  robbed 
me  of  the  affection  I  once  had  for  both  ?  I  believe 
gentlemen  to  be  the  pest  of  society;  and  oh!  the  delight 
of  being  here  in  this  calm  retreat,  where  love  dwells, 
and  no  gentleman  can  find  me.  Ah!  ah!  oh!  WTiat 
is  that?" 

For  a  heavy  blow  descended  on  the  door.  "That 
is  Jenny's  knock"  said  Mrs.  Wilson  drily.  "Come 
in,  Jenny."  The  servant,  thus  invited,  burst  the  door 
open  as  savagely  as  she  had  struck  it,  and  announced 
with  a  knowing  grin:  "A  GENTLEMAN  —  FOR 
MISS  FOUNTAIN." 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

David  and  Eve  sat  together  at  their  little  breakfast,  and 
pressed  each  other  to  eat;  but  neither  could  eat.  David's 
night  excursion  had  filled  Eve  with  new  misgivings. 
It  was  the  act  of  a  madman;  and  we  know  the  fears 
that  beset  her  on  that  head,  and  their  ground.  He  had 
come  home  shivering,  and  she  had  forced  him  to  keep 
his  bed  all  that  day.  He  was  not  well  now,  and  bodily 
weakness,  added  to  his  other  afflictions,  bore  his  spirit 
down,  though  nothing  could  cow  it. 

"When  are  you  to  sail.?"  inquired  Eve,  sick-like. 

"In  three  days.     Cargo  won't  be  on  board  before." 

* '  A  coasting- vessel ! ' ' 

"A  man  can  do  his  duty  in  a  coaster  as  well  as  a 
merchantman  or  a  frigate."     But  he  sighed. 

'*  Would  to  God  you  had  never  see  her  ! " 

"Don't  blame  her!  blame  me!  I  had  good  advice 
from  my  little  sister;  but  I  was  wilful.  Never  mind. 
Eve,  I  need  n't  to  blush  for  loving  her.  She  is  worthy 
of  it  all." 

"Well,  think  so,  David,  if  you  can."  And  Eve, 
thoroughly  depressed,  relapsed  into  silence.  The  post- 
man's rap  was  heard,  and,  soon  after,  a  long  enclosure 
was  placed  in  Eve's  hand. 

Poor  little  Eve  did  not  receive  many  letters,  and,  sad 
as  she  was,  she  opened  this  with  some  interest ;  but  how 
shall  I  paint  its  effect !  She  kept  uttering  shrieks  of  joy, 
one  after  another,  at  each  sentence.  And  when  she 
had  shrieked  with  joy  many  times,  she  ran  with  the  large 

502 


LOVE  ME  LONG  503 

paper  round  to  David.  "You  are  captain  of  the 
Rajah!  ah!  the  new  ship!  ah!  eleven  hundred  tons! 
Oh,  David!  oh!  my  heart!  oh!  oh!  oh!"  and  the  poor  / 
little  thing  clasped  her  arms  round  her  brother's  neck, 
and  kissed  him  again  and  again,  and  cried  and  sobbed 
for  joy. 

All  men,  and  most  women,  go  through  life  without 
once  knowing  what  it  is  to  cry  for  joy;  and  it  is  a  com- 
fort to  think  that  Eve's  pure  and  deep  affection  brought 
her  such  a  moment  as  this  in  return  for  much  trouble 
and  sorrow.' 

David,  stout-hearted  as  he  was,  was  shaken  as  the 
sea  and  the  wind  had  never  yet  shaken  him.     He  turned 
red  and  white  alternately,  and  trembled.     "Captain  of 
the  Rajah!  it  is  too  good  —  it  is  too  good!  I  have  done   \ 
nothing  for  it;"  and  he  was  incredulous. 

Eve  was  devouring  the  enclosure.  "  It  is  her  doing," 
she  cried;  "it  is  all  her  doing." 

"Whose.?" 

"Who  do  you  think.?  I  am  in  the  air.  I  am  in 
heaven.  Bless  her!  —  oh,  God  bless  her  for  this! 
Never 'speak  against  cold-blooded  folk  before  me;  they 
have  twice  the  principle  of  us  hot  ones  —  I  always  said 
so.  She  is  a  good  creature;  she  is  a  true  friend;  and 
you  accused  her  of  ingratitude." 

"That  I  never  did." 

"You  did,  Rajah!  —  he!  he,  oh!  and  I  defended 
her.  Here,  take  and  read  that.  Is  that  a  commission 
or  not.?  Now,  you  be  quiet,  and  let  us  see  what  she 
says.  No,  I  can't;  I  cannot  keep  the  nasty  tears 
out  of  my  eyes.  Do  take  and  read  it,  David:  I'm 
blind." 

David  took  the  letter,  kissed  it,  and  read  it  out  to 


504  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Eve;  and  she  kept  crowing  and  shedding  tears  all  the 
time:  — 

***Deak  Miss  Dodd  —  I  admire  too  much  your  true  affection  for 
your  brother  to  be  indifferent  to  your  good  opinion.  Think  of  me  as 
leniently  as  you  can.  Perhaps  it  gives  me  as  much  pleasure  to  be  able 
to  forward  you  the  enclosed  as  the  receipt  of  it,  I  hope,  may  give  you. 
It  would,  I  think,  be  more  wise,  and  certainly  more  generous,  not  to  let 
Mr.  Dodd  think  he  owes  in  any  degree  to  me  that  which,  if  the  world 
were  just,  would  surely  have  been  his  long  ago.  Only,  some  few  months 
hence,  when  it  can  do  him  no  harm,  I  could  wish  him  noV  to  think  his 
friend  Lucy  was  ungrateful,  or  even  cold  in  his  service,  who  saved  her 
life,  and  once  honoured  her  with  so  warm  an  esteem.  But  all  this  I 
confide  to  your  discretion  and  your  justice.  Dear  Miss  Dodd,  those  who 
give  pain  to  others  do  not  escape  it  themselves,  nor  is  it  just  they 
should.  My  insensibility  to  the  merit  of  persons  of  the  other  sex  has 
provoked  my  relatives;  they  have  punished  me,  for  declining  Mr.  Dodd  *s 
inferiors,  with  a  bitterness  Mr.  Dodd,  with  far  more  cause,  never  showed 
me.  So  you  see,  at  each  turn,  I  am  reminded  of  his  superiority.  The 
result  is,  I  am  separated  from  my  friends,  and  am  living  all  alone  with 
my  dear  old  nurse,  at  her  farmhouse. 

"  *  Since  then  I  am  unhappy,  and  you  are  generous,  you  will,  I  think, 
forgive  me  all  the  pain  I  have  caused  you,  and  will  let  me,  in  bidding 
you  adieu,  subscribe  myself,  —  Yours  affectionately, 

"*LucY  Fountain.'" 

"It  is  the  letter  of  a  sweet  girl,  David,  with  a  noble 
heart;  and  she  has  taken  a  noble  revenge  of  me  for  what 
I  said  to  her  the  other  day,  and  made  her  cry,  like  a 
little  brute  as  I  am.     Why,  how  glum  you  look!" 

"Eve,"  said  David,  "do  you  think  I  will  accept  this 
from  her,  without  herself?" 

"Of  course  you  will.  Don't  be  too  greedy,  David. 
Leave  the  girl  in  peace;  she  has  shown  you  what  she 
will  do,  and  what  she  won't.  One  such  friend  as  this 
is  worth  a  hundred  lovers.  Give  me  her  dear  little 
note." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  505 

While  Eve  was  perusing  it,  David  went  out,  but 
soon  returned  with  his  best  coat  on,  and  his  hat  in  his 
hand.  Eve  asked  with  some  surprise  where  he  was  going 
in  such  a  hurry. 

**To  her." 

**  Well,  David,  now  I  come  to  read  her  letter  quietly, 
it  is  a  woman's  letter  all  over;  you  may  read  it  which 
way  you  like.  Wliat  need  had  she  to  tell  me  she  has 
just  refused  offers  ?  And  then  she  tells  me  she  is  all 
alone.  That  sounds  like  a  hint  the  company  of  a 
friend  might  be  agreeable.  Brush  your  coat  first,  at 
any  rate;  there 's  something  white  on  it  —  it  is  a  paper; 
it  is  pinned  on.  Come  here!  ^Vhy,  what  is  this?  it  is 
written  on,  *Adieu.'  "  And  Eve  opened  her  eyes  and 
mouth  as  well. 

She  asked  him  when  he  wore  the  coat  last. 

**The  day  before  yesterday." 

"Were  you  in  company  of  any  girls .?" 

"Not  I." 

"But  this  is  written  by  a  girl,  and  it  is  pinned  on  by 
a  girl.  See  how  it  is  quilted  in !  !  —  that 's  proof  positive. 
Oh !  —  oh !  —  oh !  look  here.  Look  at  these  two 
*  Adieus'  —  the  one  in  the  letter,  and  this ;  they  are  the 
same  —  precisely  the  same.  What,  in  heaven's  name, 
is  the  meaning  of  this  ?  Were  you  in  her  company  that 
night.?" 

"No." 

"Will  you  swear  that.?" 

"No;  I  can't  swear  it,  because  I  was  asleep  a  part 
of  the  time;  but,  waking,  in  her  company,  I  was  not." 

"It  is  her  writing,  and  she  pinned  it  on  you." 

"How  can  that  be.  Eve ?" 

"I  don't  know;  I  am  sure  she  did,  though.     Look 


506  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

at  this  'Adieu'  and  that;  you'll  never  get  it  out  of  my 
head  one  hand  wrote  them  both.  You  are  so  green; 
a  girl  would  come  behind  you  and  pin  it  on  you,  and 
you  never  feel  her." 

While  saying  these  words,  Eve  slily  repinned  it  on 
him  without  his  feeling  or  knowing  anything  about  it. 

David  was  impatient  to  be  gone,  but  she  held  him 
a  minute  to  advise  him. 

'*Tell  her  she  must  and  shall.  Don't  take  a  denial. 
If  you  are  cowardly,  she  will  be  bold;  but  if  you  are 
bold  and  resolute,  she  will  knuckle  down  —  mind  that; 
and  don't  go  about  it  with  such  a  face  as  that,  as  long  as 
my  arm.  If  she  says  'No,'  you  have  got  the  ship  to 
comfort  you.     Oh!  I  am  so  happy!" 

"No,  Eve,"  said  David;  "if  she  won't  give  me 
herself,  I  '11  never  take  her  ship.  I  'd  die  a  foretop 
man  sooner";  and,  with  these  parting  words,  he 
renewed  all  his  sister's  anxiety.  She  sat  down  sorrow- 
fully, and  the  horrible  idea  gained  on  her  that  there  was 
mania  in  David's  love  for  Lucy. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

David  had  one  advantage  over  others  that  were  now 
hunting  Lucy.  Mrs.  Wilson  had  unwittingly  given  him 
pretty  plain  directions  how  to  find  her  farmhouse ;  and, 
as  Eve,  in  the  exercise  of  her  discretion,  or  indiscretion, 
had  shown  David  Lucy's  letter,  he  had  only  to  ride  to 
Harrowden  and  inquire.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  his 
competitors  were  a  few  miles  nearer  the  game,  and  had 
a  day's  start. 

David  got  a  horse  and  galloped  to  Harrowden;  fed 
him  at  the  inn,  and  asked  where  Mrs.  Wilson's  farm 
was.  The  waiter,  a  female,  did  not  know;  but  would 
inquire.  Meantime  David  asked  for  two  sheets  of 
paper,  and  wrote  a  few  lines  on  each ;  then  folded  them 
both  (in  those  days  envelopes  were  not),  but  did  not 
seal  them.  Mrs.  Wilson's  farm  turned  out  to  be  only 
two  miles  from  Harrowden,  and  the  road  easy  to  find. 
He  was  soon  there;  gave  his  horse  to  one  of  the  farm- 
boys,  and  went  into  the  kitchen  and  asked  if  Miss 
Fountain  lived  there.  This  question  threw  him  into 
the  hands  of  Jenny,  who  invited  him  to  follow  her,  and, 
unlike  your  powdered  and  noiseless  lackey,  pounded 
the  door  with  her  fist,  kicked  it  open  with  her  foot,  and 
announced  him  with  that  thunderbolt  of  language  which 
fell  so  inopportunely  on  Lucy's  self -congratulations. 

The  look  Mrs.  Wilson  cast  on  Lucy  was  droll 
enough;  but  when  David's  square  shoulders  and  hand- 
some face  filled  up  the  doorway,  a  second  look  followed 
that  spoke  folios. 

507 


508  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

Lucy  rose,  and  with  heightened  colour,  but  ad- 
mirable self-possession,  welcomed  David  like  a  valued 
friend. 

Mrs.  Wilson's  greeting  was  broad  and  hearty;  and 
very  soon  after  she  had  made  him  sit  down,  she  bounced 
up  crying,  "You  will  stay  dinner,  now  you  be  come;  and 
I  must  see  as  they  don't  starve  you."  So  saying,  out 
she  went;  but  looking  back  at  the  door,  was  transfixed 
by  an  arrow  of  reproach  from  her  nursling's  eye. 

liUcy's  reception  of  David,  kind  as  it  was,  was  not 
encouraging  to  one  coming  on  David's  errand,  for  there 
was  the  wrong  shade  of  amity  in  it. 

In  times  past,  it  would  have  cooled  David  with  mis- 
givings; but  now  he  did  not  give  himself  time  to  be 
discouraged.  He  came  to  make  a  last  desperate  effort, 
and  he  made  it  at  once.  *'Miss  Lucy,  I  have  got  the 
Rajah,  thanks  to  you." 

**  Thanks  to  me,  Mr.  Dodd.?  Thanks  to  your  own 
high  character  and  merit." 

''No,  Miss  Lucy,  you  know  better,  and  I  know 
better;  and  there  is  your  own  sweet  handwriting  to 
prove  it." 

"  Miss  Dodd  has  showed  you  my  letter  ?" 

''How  could  she  help  it.?" 

"What  a  pity!  how  injudicious!" 

"The  truth  is  like  the  light;  why  keep  it  out.?  Yes; 
what  I  have  worked  for,  and  battled  the  weather  so 
many  years,  and  been  sober  and  prudent,  and  a  hard 
student  at  every  idle  hour  —  that  has  come  to  me  in  one 
moment,  from  your  dear  hand." 

"It  is  a  shame." 

"Bless  you.  Miss  Lucy!"  cried  David,  not  noting 
the  remark. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  509 

Lucy  blushed,  and  the  water  stood  in  her  eyes.  She 
murmured  softly,  *'You  should  not  say  Miss  Lucy;  it 
is  not  customary.  You  should  say  Lucy,  or  Miss 
Fountain." 

This  apropos  remarked  by  way  of  a  female  diversion. 

**Then  let  me  say  Lucy,  to-day,  for  perhaps  I  shall 
never  say  that,  or  anything  that  is  sweet  to  say,  again. 
Lucy,  you  know  what  I  came  for .?" 

*'Oh,  yes!  to  receive  my  congratulations." 

**  More  than  that  —  a  great  deal.  To  ask  you  to  go 
halves  in  the  Rajah.'' 

Lucy's  eyebrows  demanded  an  explanation. 

*'She  is  worth  two  thousand  a  year  to  her  com- 
mander, and  that  is  too  much  for  a  bachelor." 

Lucy  coloured  and  smiled.  "Why,  it  is  only  just 
enough  for  most  of  them  to  live  upon." 

**It  is  too  much  for  me  alone,  under  the  circum- 
stances, said  David  gravely;  and  there  was  a  little 
silence. 

"Lucy,  I  love  you.  With  you  the  Rajah  would  be 
a  godsend.  She  will  help  me  keep  you  in  the  company 
you  have  been  used  to,  and  were  made  to  brighten  and 
adorn;  but  without  you  I  cannot  take  her  from  your 
hand  —  and  to  speak  plain,  I  won't." 

"OhIMr.Dodd!" 

"No,  Lucy,  before  I  knew  you,  to  command  a  ship 
was  the  height  of  my  ambition,  her  quarter-deck  my 
heaven  on  earth ;  and  this  is  a  clipper,  I  own  it,  I  saw  her 
in  the  docks.  But  you  have  taught  me  to  look  higher. 
Share  my  ship  and  my  heart  with  me,  and  certainly  the 
ship  will  be  my  child,  and  all  the  dearer  to  me  that  she 
came  to  us  from  her  I  love.  But  don't  say  to  me,  *Me 
you  sha'  n't  have,  you  are  not  good  enough  for  that;  but 


510  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

there  is  a  ship  for  you  in  my  place ! '  I  would  n't  accept 
a  star  out  of  the  firmament  on  those  terms." 

**How  unreasonable!  On  the  contrary,  you  should 
say,  *I  am  doubly  fortunate:  I  escape  a  foolish,  weak 
companion  for  life,  and  I  have  a  beautiful  ship.'  But 
friendship  such  as  mine  for  you  wagi  never  appreciated. 
I  do  you  injustice,  you  only  talk  like  that  to  tease  me 
and  make  me  unhappy." 

**Oh!  Lucy,  Lucy!  did  you  ever  know  me " 

"There  now,  forgive  me!  and  own  you  are  not  in 
earnest." 

**This  will  show  you,"  said  David  sadly,  and  he 
took  out  two  letters  from  his  bosom.  "Here  are  two 
letters  to  the  secretary.  In  one  I  accept  the  ship  with 
thanks,  and  offer  to  superintend  her  when  her  rigging 
is  being  set  up;  and  in  this  one  I  decline  her  altogether, 
with  my  humble  and  sincere  thanks." 

"Oh  yes,  you  are  very  humble,  sir,"  said  Lucy. 
"Now  —  dear  friend  —  listen  to  reason.  You  have 
others " 

"Excuse  my  interrupting  you,  but  it  is  a  rule  with 
me  never  to  reason  about  right  and  wrong:  I  notice 
that  whoever  does  that,  ends  by  choosing  wrong.  I 
don't  go  to  my  head  to  find  my  duty,  I  go  to  my  heart; 
and  what  little  manhood  there  is  in  me  all  cries  out 
against  me  compounding  with  the  woman  I  love,  and 
taking  a  ship  instead  of  her." 

"How  unkind  you  are!  it  is  not  as  if  I  was  under  no 
obligations  to  you.  Is  not  my  life  worth  a  ship  ?  You 
said  I  was  an  angel." 

"I  can't  see  it  so.  It  was  a  greater  pleasure  to  me  to 
save  your  life,  as  you  call  it,  than  it  could  be  to  you.  I 
can't  let  that  into  the  account.     A  woman  is  a  woman. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  511 

but  a  man  is  a  man;  and  I  will  be  under  no  obligation 
to  you  but  one." 

**What  arrogance!" 

"Don't  you  be  angry!  I  '11  love  you  and  bless  you  all 
the  same.  But  I  am  a  man,  and  a  man  I  '11  die,  whether 
I  die  captain  of  a  ship  or  of  a  foretop.     Poor  Eve !" 

"See  how  power  tries  people,  and  brings  out  their 
true  character.  Since  you  commanded  the  Rajah  you 
are  all  changed.  You  used  to  be  submissive;  now  you 
must  have  your  own  way  entirely;  you  will  fling  my  poor 
ship  in  my  face  unless  I  give  you  —  but  this  is  really 
using  force,  yes,  Mr.  Dodd,  this  is  using  force.  Some- 
body has  told  you  that  my  sex  yield  when  downright 
compulsion  is  used.  It  is  true.  And  the  more  un- 
generous to  apply  it."  And  she  melted  into  a  few 
placid  tears. 

David  did  not  know  this  sign  of  yielding  in  a  woman, 
and  he  groaned  at  the  sight  of  them  and  hung  his  head. 

"Advise  me  what  I  had  better  do!" 

To  this  singular  proposal  David,  listening  to  the  ill 
advice  of  the  fiend  generosity,  groaned  out,  "  Why  should 
you  be  tormented,  and  made  cry  .^" 

"Why,  indeed.?" 

"Nothing  can  change  me.  I  advise  you  to  cut  it 
short.'' 

"Oh!  do  you.?  very  well.  Why  did  you  say  '  Poor 
Eve.?'" 

"Ah!  poor  thing!  she  cried  for  joy  when  she  read 
your  letter,  but  when  I  go  back  she  will  cry  for  grief," 
and  his  voice  faltered. 

"I  will  cut  this  short,  Mr.  Dodd:  give  me  that 
paper." 

"Which.?" 


5U  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"The  wicked  one,  where  you  refuse  my  Rajah,'^ 

David  hesitated. 

"You  are  no  gentleman,  sir,  if  you  refuse  a  lady  — 
give  it  me  this  instant,"  cried  Lucy,  so  haughtily  and 
imperiously  that  David  did  not  know  her,  and  gave  her 
the  letter  with  a  half -co  wed  air.       L 

She  took  it,  and  with  both  her  supple  white  hands 
tore  it  with  insulting  precision  exactly  in  half.  "  There, 
sir;  and  there,  sir,"  (exactly  in  four);  "and  there," 
(in  eight,  with  malicious  exactness);  "and  there,"  and 
though  it  seemed  impossible  to  effect  another  separation, 
yet  the  taper  fingers  and  a  resolute  will  reduced  it  to 
tiny  bits.  She  then  made  a  gesture  to  throw  them  in  the 
fire,  and  thought  better  of  it  and  held  them. 

David  looked  on,  almost  amused  at  this  zealous 
demolition  of  a  thing  he  could  so  easily  replace.  He 
said,  part  sadly,  part  doggedly,  part  apologetically, 
"I  can  write  another." 

"  But  you  will  not.     Oh,  Mr.  Dodd;  don't  you  see .?" 

He  looked  up  at  her  eagerly.  To  his  surprise,  her 
haughty  eagle  look  had  gone,  and  she  seemed  a  pitying 
goddess,  all  tenderness  and  benignity;  only  her  mant- 
ling, burning  cheek,  showed  her  to  be  woman. 

She  faltered  in  answer  to  his  wild,  eager  look,  "Was 
I  ever  so  rude  before  ?  What  right  have  I  to  tear  your 
letter,  unless  I " 

The  characteristic  full  stop,  and  above  all  the  heav- 
ing bosom,  the  melting  eye,  and  the  red  cheek  were 
enough  even  for  poor  simple  David.  Heaven  seemed 
to  open  on  him.  His  burning  kisses  fell  on  the  sweet 
hands  that  had  torn  his  death-warrant.  No  resistance. 
She  blushed  higher,  but  smiled.  His  powerful  arm 
curled  round  her.     She  looked  a  little  scared,  but  not 


LOVE  ME  LONG  513 

much.  He  kissed  her  sweet  cheek;  the  blush  spread 
to  her  very  forehead  at  that,  but  no  resistance.  As  the 
winged  and  rapid  bird,  if  her  feathers  be  but  touched 
with  a  speck  of  bird-lime,  loses  all  power  of  flight,  so  it 
seemed  as  if  that  one  kiss,  the  first  a  stranger  had  ever 
pressed  on  Lucy's  virgin  cheek,  paralysed  her  eel-like 
and  evasive  powers.  Under  it  her  whole  supple  frame 
seemed  to  yield  as  David  drew  her  closer  and  closer  to 
him,  till  she  hid  her  forehead  and  wet  eyelashes  on  his 
shoulder,  and  murmured 

"How  could  I  let  you  be  unhappy." 

Neither  spoke  awhile.  Each  felt  the  other's  heart 
beat;  and  David  drank  that  ecstasy  of  silent,  delirious 
bliss,  which  comes  to  great  hearts  once  in  a  life. 

Had  he  not  earned  it  ? 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

By  some  mighty  instinct  Mrs.  Wilson  knew  when  to 
come  in.  She  came  to  the  door  just  one  minute  after 
Lucy  had  capitulated,  and  turning  the  handle,  but  with- 
out opening  the  door,  bawled  some  fresh  directions  to 
Jenny;  this  was  to  enable  Lucy  to  smooth  ruffled 
feathers,  if  necessary,  and  look  Agnes.  But  Lucy's 
actual  contact  with  that  honest  heart  seemed  to  have 
made  a  change  in  her ;  instead  of  doing  Agnes,  she  con- 
fronted (after  a  fashion  of  her  own)  the  situation  she 
had  so  long  evaded. 

**Oh,  nurse!"  she  cried,  and  wreathed  her  arms 
round  her. 

"Don't  cry,  my  lamb!     I  can  guess." 

"Cry.?  —  oh,  no!  I  would  not  pay  him  so  poor  a 
compliment.  It  was  to  say,  *  Dear  nurse,  you  must  love 
Mr.  Dodd  as  well  as  me  now.'  " 

The  dame  received  this  indirect  intelligence  with 
hearty  delight. 

"That  won't  cost  me  much  trouble,"  said  she.  "He 
is  the  one  I  'd  have  picked  out  of  all  England  for  my 
nursling.  When  a  young  man  is  kind  to  an  old  woman, 
it  is  a  good  sign;  but,  la!  his  face  is  enough  for  me — who 
ever  saw  guile  in  such  a  face  as  that  ?  Are  n't  ye  hungry 
by  this  time  ?   Dinner  will  be  ready  in  about  a  minute." 

"Nurse,  can  I  speak  to  you  a  word.?" 

"Yes,  sure." 

It  was  to  inquire  whether  she  would  invite  Miss 
Dodd. 

514 


LOVE  ME  LONG  515 

"  She  loves  her  brother  very  dearly,  and  it  is  cruel  to 
separate  them.  Mr.  Dodd  will  be  nearly  always  here 
now  —  will  he  not  ?^' 

"  You  may  take  your  davy  of  that." 

In  a  very  few  minutes  a  note  was  written,  and  Mrs. 
Wilson's  eldest  son,  a  handsome  young  farmer,  started 
in  the  covered  cart  with  his  mother's  orders,  **To  bring 
the  young  lady,  willy  nilly." 

The  holy  allies  both  openly  scouted  Kenealy's 
advice;  and  both  slily  stepped  down  into  the  town  and 
acted  on  it.  Mr.  Fountain  then  returned  to  Font 
Abbey.  Their  two  advertisements  appeared  side  by 
side,  and  exasperated  them. 

After  dinner,  Mrs.  Wilson  sent  Lucy  and  David  out 
to  take  a  walk.  At  the  gate  they  met  with  a  little  inter- 
ruption —  a  carriage  drove  up :  the  coachman  touched 
his  hat,  and  Mrs.  Bazalgette  put  her  head  out  of  the 
window. 

**I  came  to  take  you  back,  love." 

David  quaked. 

*' Thank  you,  aunt!  but  it  is  not  worth  while, 
now." 

**Ah!"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  casting  a  venomous 
look  on  David.     **  I  am  too  late,  am  I  ?     Poor  girl ! " 

Lucy  soothed  her  aunt  with  the  information  that 
she  was  much  happier  now  than  she  had  been  for  a  long 
time  past.     For  this  was  a  fencing-match  beginning. 

"May  I  have  a  word  in  private  with  my  niece .^" 
inquired  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  bitterly,  of  David. 

**Why  not.?"  said  David  stoutly;  but  his  heart 
turned  sick  as  he  retired.     Lucy  saw  the  look  of  anxiety. 


516  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

"Lucy,"  said  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  *'you  left  me  because 
you  are  averse  to  matrimony,  and  I  urged  you  to  it; 
of  course,  with  those  sentiments  you  have  no  idea  of 
marrying  that  man  there!  I  don't  suspect  you  of  such 
hypocrisy;  and,  therefore,  I  say  come  home  with  me, 
and  you  shall  marry  nobody;  your  inclination  shall  be 
free  as  air." 

"Aunt,"  said  Lucy  demurely,  "why  did  n't  you  come 
yesterday.^  I  always  said,  those  who  loved  me  best 
would  find  me  first;  and  you  let  Mr.  Dodd  come  first. 
I  am  so  sorry." 

"Then  your  pretended  aversion  to  marriage  was  all 
hypocrisy  —  was  it  .^" 

Lucy  informed  her  that  marriage  was  a  contract,  and 
the  contracting  parties  two,  and  no  more  —  the  bride 
and  bridegroom;  and  that  to  sign  a  contract  without 
reading  it  is  silly,  and  meaning  not  to  keep  it  is  wicked. 
"So,"  said  she,  "I  read  the  contract  over  in  the  prayer- 
book  this  morning,  for  fear  of  accidents." 

My  reader  may,  perhaps,  be  amused  at  this  ad- 
mission; but  Mrs.  Bazalgette  was  disgusted,  and  in- 
quired, "WTiat  stuff  is  the  girl  talking  now.?" 

"It  is  called  common-sense.  Well,  I  find  the  con- 
tract is  one  I  can  carry  out  with  Mr.  Dodd,  and  with 
nobody  else.  I  can  love  him  a  little;  can  honour  him 
a  great  deal;  and  obey  him  entirely.  I  begin  now. 
There  he  is;  and  if  you  feel  you  cannot  show  him  the 
courtesy  of  making  him  one  in  our  conversation,  permit 
me  to  retire  and  relieve  his  solitude." 

"Mighty  fine;  and  if  you  don't  instantly  leave  him 
and  come  home,  you  shall  never  enter  my  house  again." 

"Unless  sickness  or  trouble  should  visit  your  house; 
and  then  you  will  send  for  me,  and  I  shall  come." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  517 

Mrs,  Bazalgette  (to  the  coachman).     "Home!" 

Lucy  made  her  a  polite  obeisance,  to  keep  up 
appearances  before  the  servants  and  the  farm-people, 
who  were  gaping.  She,  whose  breeding  was  inferior, 
flounced  into  a  corner  without  returning  it.  The 
carriage  drove  off. 

David  inquired  with  great  anxiety  whether  some- 
thing had  not  been  said  to  vex  her.? 

"Not  in  the  least,"  replied  Lucy  calmly.  "Little 
things  and  little  people  can  no  longer  vex  me.  I  have 
great  duties  to  think  of,  and  —  a  great  heart  to  share 
them  with  me.  Let  us  walk  toward  Harrowden;  we 
may  perhaps  meet  a  friend." 

Sure  enough,  just  on  this  side  Harrowden,  they  met 
the  covered  cart,  and  Eve  in  it,  radiant  with  unexpected 
delight.  The  engaged  ones  —  for  such  they  had  be- 
come in  those  two  miles  —  mounted  the  cart,  and  the 
two  men  sat  in  front,  and  Eve  and  Lucy  intertwined  at 
the  back,  and  opened  their  hearts  to  each  other. 

Eve.     "And  you  have  taken  off  the  paper,  I  see.'* 
Lucy.  "What  paper.?  It  was  no  longer  applicable.'* 


CHAPTER  XXX 

I  HAVE  already  noticed  that  Lucy,  after  capitulation, 
laid  down  her  arms  gracefully  and  sensibly.  And, 
being  asked  to  name  a  very  early  day  for  the  wedding, 
she  opposed  no  childish  delay  to  David's  happiness; 
for  the  Rajah  was  to  sail  in  six  weeks  and  separate 
them.  So  the  license  was  got  and  the  wedding  day 
came ;  and  all  Lucy's  previous  study  of  the  contract  did 
not  prevent  her  from  being  deeply  affected  by  the  solemn 
words  that  joined  her  to  David  in  holy  matrimony. 
She  bore  up,  though,  stoutly;  for  her  sense  of  propriety 
and  courtesy  forbade  her  to  cloud  a  festivity.  But 
when  the  post-chaise  came,  to  convey  bride  and  bride- 
groom on  their  little  tour,  and  she  had  to  leave  Mrs. 
Wilson  and  Eve  for  a  whole  week,  the  tears  would  not 
be  denied ;  and,  to  show  how  perilous  a  road  matrimony 
is,  these  two  risked  a  misunderstanding  on  their  wedding 
day.  Thus,  Lucy,  all  alone  in  the  post-chaise  with 
David,  dissolved  —  a  perfect  Niobe,  gushing  at  short 
intervals.  Sometimes  a  faint  explanation  gurgled  out 
with  the  tears.  *'Poor  Eve!  her  dear  little  face  was 
working  so,  not  to  cry.  Oh!  oh!  I  should  not  have 
minded  so  much  if  she  had  cried  right  out."  Then 
again;  it  was,  "Poor  Mrs.  Wilson,  I  was  only  a  week 
with  her,  for  all  her  love.  I  have  made  a  c — at's  — 
p-paw  of  her,  oh!" 

Then  again,  '^ncle  Bazalgette  has  never  noticed 
us;  he  thinks  me  a  h-h-ypocrite."  But  quite  as  often 
they  flowed  without  any  accompanying  reason. 

518 


LOVE  ME  LONG  519 

Now  if  David  had  been  a  poetaster,  he  would  have 
said,  "Why  these  tears?  she  has  got  me?  Am  I  not 
more  than  an  equivalent  to  these  puny  considerations  ?" 
and  all  this  salt  water  would  have  burned  into  his 
vanity  like  liquid  caustic.  If  he  had  been  a  poet  he 
would  have  said,  "Alas!  I  make  her  unhappy  whom  I 
hoped  to  make  happy,"  and  with  this  he  would  have 
been  sad,  and  so  prolonged  her  sadness,  and  perhaps 
ended  by  sulking.  But  David  had  two  good  things,  a 
kind  heart,  and  a  skin  not  too  thin;  and  such  are  the 
men  that  make  women  happy  in  spite  of  their  weak 
nerves  and  craven  spirits. 

He  gave  her  time;  soothed  her  kindly;  but  did  not 
check  her  weakness  dead  short. 

At  last  my  Lady  Chesterfield  said  to  him  penitently, 
"  This  is  a  poor  compliment  to  you,  Mr.  Dodd;"  and 
then  Niobised  again,  partly,  I  believe,  with  regret  that 
she  was  behaving  so  discourteously. 

"It  is  very  natural,"  said  David  kindly;  "but  we 
shall  soon  see  them  all  again,  you  know." 

Presently  she  looked  in  his  radiant  face,  with  wet 
eyes,  but  a  half  smile.  "You  amaze  me;  you  don't  seem 
the  least  terrified  at  what  we  have  done." 

"Not  a  bit,"  cried  David,  like  a  cheerful  horn.  "I 
have  been  in  worse  peril  than  this,  and  so  have  you. 
Our  troubles  are  ail  over.  I  see  nothing  but  happiness 
ahead."  He  then  drew  a  sunny  picture  of  their  future 
life,  to  all  which  she  listened  demurely;  and,  in  short, 
he  treated  her  little  feminine  distress  as  the  summer 
sun  treats  a  mist  that  tries  to  damp  it.  He  soon  dried 
her  up,  and  when  they  reached  their  journey's  end  she 
was  as  bright  as  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

They  had  been  married  a  week.  A  slight  change,  but 
quite  distinct  to  an  observer  of  her  sex,  shone  in  Lucy's 
face  and  manner.  A  new  beauty  was  in  her  face  —  the 
bloom  of  wifehood.  Her  eyes,  though  not  less  modest, 
were  less  timid  than  before;  and  now  they  often  met 
David's  full,  and  seemed  to  sip  affection  at  them.  When 
he  came  near  her,  her  lovely  frame  showed  itself  con- 
scious of  his  approach.  His  queen,  though  he  did  not 
know  it,  was  his  vassal.  They  sat  at  table  at  a  little  inn, 
twenty  miles  from  Harrowden,  for  they  were  on  their 
return  to  Mrs.  Wilson.  Lucy  went  to  the  window, 
while  David  settled  the  bill.  At  the  window,  it  is 
probable  she  had  her  own  thoughts;  for  she  glided  up 
behind  David,  and  fanning  his  hair  with  her  cool, 
honeyed  breath,  she  said,  in  the  tone  of  a  humble  in- 
quirer seeking  historical  or  antiquarian  information, 
"I  want  to  ask  you  a  question,  David  — 

"Are  you  happy  too?'' 

David  answered  promptly,  but  inarticulately.  So 
his  reply  is  lost  to  posterity. 

But  conjecture  survives. 

One  disappointment  awaited  Lucy  at  Mrs.  Wilson's. 
There  were  several  letters  for  both  David  and  her;  but 
none  from  Mr.  Bazalgette.  She  knew  by  that  she  had 
lost  his  respect.  She  could  not  blame  him,  for  she  saw 
how  like  disingenuousness  and  hypocrisy  her  conduct 
must  look  to  him.     '*!  must  trust  to  time  and  oppor- 

520 


LOVE  ME  LONG  521 

tunity,"  she  said,  with  a  sigh.  She  proposed  to 
David  to  read  her  letters,  and  she  would  read  his.  He 
thought  this  a  droll  idea;  but  nothing  that  identified 
him  with  his  royal  vassal  came  amiss.  The  first  letter 
of  Lucy's  David  opened  was  from  Mr.  Talboys  — 

"Dear  Madam  —  I  have  heard  of  your  marriage  with  Mr.  Dodd,  and 
desire  to  offer  both  you  and  him  my  cordial  congratulations. 

"I  feel  under  considerable  obligation  to  Mr.  Dodd;  and,  should  my 
house  ever  have  a  mistress,  I  hope  she  will  be  able  to  tempt  you  both  to 
renew  our  acquaintance  under  my  roof,  and  so  give  me  once  more  that 
opportunity  I  have  too  little  improved,  of  showing  you  both  the  sincere 
respect  and  gratitude,  with  which  I  am,  your  very  faithful  servant. 

"Reginald  Talboys." 

Lucy  was  delighted  with  this  note.  "Who  says  it 
is  nothing  to  have  been  born  a  gentleman .?" 

The  second  letter  was  from  Reginald  2;  and,  if  I 
only  give  the  reader  a  fragment  of  it,  I  still  expect  his 
gratitude,  all  one  as  if  I  had  disinterred  a  fragment  of 
Orpheus  or  Tiresias. 

Dear  lucy. 

It  is  very  ungust  of  you  to  go  and 
Mary  other  peeple  wen  you 
Promised  me.  but  it  is  mr.  dod. 
So  i  dont  so  much  mind  i  like 
Mr.  dod.  he  is  a  due.  and  they  all 
Say  i  am  too  litle  and  jane  says 
Sailors  always  end  by  been 
Drouned  so  it  is  only  put  off. 
But  you  reely  must  keep  your 
Promise  to  me.  wen  i  am  biger 
And  mr.  Dod  is  drouned.  my 
Ginnypigs 

Here  a  white  hand  drew  the  pleasing  composition  out 
of  David's  hand,   and  dropped  it  on  the  floor;  two 


/ 


522  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

piteous,  tearful  eyes  were  bent  on  him,  and  a  white 
arm  went  tenderly  round  his  neck  to  save  him  from  the 
threatened  fate.  | 

At  this  sight  Eve  pounced  on  the  horrid  scroll,  and 
hurled  it,  by  general  acclamation,  into  the  flames. 

Thus,  that  sweet  infant  revenged  himself,  and,  like 
Sampson,  hit  hardest  of  all  at  parting;  in  tears  and 
flame  vanished  from  written  fiction,  and,  I  conclude, 
went  back  to  Gavarni. 

There  was  a  letter  from  Mr.  Fountain  —  all  fire  and 
fury.  She  was  never  to  write  or  speak  to  him  any  more. 
He  was  now  looking  out  for  a  youth  of  good  family  to 
adopt  and  to  make  a  Fontaine  of  by  Act  of  Parliament, 
&c.,  &c.     A  fusillade  of  written  thunderbolts. 

There  was  another  from  Mrs.  Bazalgette,  written 
with  cream  —  of  tartar,  and  oil  —  of  vitriol.  She  for- 
gave her  niece,  and  wished  her  every  happiness  it  was 
possible  for  a  young  person  to  enjoy  who  had  deceived 
her  relations  and  married  beneath  her.  She  felt  pity 
rather  than  anger;  and  there  was  no  reason  why  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dodd  should  not  visit  her  house,  as  far  as  she  was 
concerned.  But  Mr.  Bazalgette  was  a  man  of  very  stern 
rectitude;  and,  as  she  could  not  make  sure  that  he 
would  treat  them  with  common  courtesy  after  what  had 
passed,  she  thought  a  temporary  separation  might  be 
the  better  course  for  all  parties. 

I  may  as  well  take  this  opportunity  of  saying  that 
these  two  egotists  carried  out  the  promise  of  their 
respective  letters.  Mr.  Fountain  blustered  for  a  year 
or  two,  and  then  showed  manifest  signs  of  relenting. 

Mrs.  Bazalgette  kept  cool,  and  wrote,  in  oils,  twice  a 
year  to  Mrs.  Dodd. 

Et  gardait  tout  doucement  une  haine  irreconciliable. 


LOVE  ME  LONG  523 

Lucy  had  to  answer  these  letters.  In  signing  one 
of  them  she  took  a  look  at  her  new  signature,  and 
smiled.  "What  a  dear,  quaint  little  name  mine 
IS,"  SAID  SHE.  "Lucy  Dodd,"  and  she  kissed  the 
signature. 

A  Month    after  Marriage. 

The  Dodds  took  a  house  in  London,  and  Eve  came 
up  to  them.  David  was  nearly  all  day  superintending 
the  ship,  but  spent  the  whole  evening  with  his  wife  at 
home.  Zeal  always  produces  irritation.  The  servant 
that  is  anxious  for  his  employer's  interest  is  sure  to  get 
in  a  passion  or  two  with  the  deadness,  indifference,  and 
heartless  injustice,  of  the  genuine  hireling.  So  David 
was  often  irritated  and  worried,  and  in  hot  water,  while 
superintending  the  Rajah;  but  the  moment  he  saw  his 
own  door,  away  he  threw  it  all,  and  came  into  the  house 
like  a  jocund  sunbeam.  Nothing  wins  a  woman  more 
than  this,  if  she  is  already  inclined  in  the  man's  favour. 
As  the  hour  that  brought  David  approached,  Lucy's 
spirits  and  Eve's  used  both  to  rise  by  anticipation, 
and  that  anticipation  his  hearty  genial  temper  never 
disappointed. 

One  day  Lucy  came  to  David  for  information. 
"David,  there  is  a  singular  change  in  me.  It  is  since 
we  came  to  London.  I  used  to  be  a  placid  girl  —  now 
I  am  a  fidget." 

"I  don't  see  it,  love." 

"No;  how  should  you,  dear.^  It  always  goes  away 
when  you  come.  Now,  listen!  When  five  o'clock 
comes  near,  I  turn  hot  and  restless,  and  can  hardly  keep 


5U  LOVE  ME  LITTLE, 

from  the  window;  and  if  you  are  five  minutes  after  your 
time,  I  really  cannot  keep  from  the  window,  and  my 
nerves  se  crispent,  and  I  cannot  sit  still,  and  it  is  very 
foolish  —  what  does  it  mean  ?  can  you  tell  me  ?" 

**Of  course  I  can.  I  am  just  the  same  when  people 
are  unpunctual;  it  is  inexcusable,  and  nothing  is  so 
vexing.     I  ought  to  be  — — " 

"Oh!  David,  what  nonsense!  it  is  not  that.  Could 
I  ever  be  vexed  with  my  David  .^" 

*' Well,  then,  there  is  Eve,  we  '11  ask  her." 

"If  you  dare,  sir!"  and  Mrs.  Dodd  was  carnation. 

Four  years  after  the  above  events. 

Two  ladies  were  gossiping. 

1st  Lady,  "What  I  like  about  Mrs.  Dodd  is  that 
she  is  so  truthful." 

2nd  Lady,     "Oh!  is  she.?" 

1^^  Lady.  "Yes;  she  is,  indeed!  Certainly,  she  is 
not  a  woman  that  blurts  out  unpleasant  things  without 
any  necessity.  She  is  kind  and  considerate  in  word  and 
deed;  but  she  is  always  true.  She  has  got  an  eye  that 
meets  you  like  a  little  lion's  eye,  and  a  tongue  without 
guile." 

Two  Qui  his  were  talking  in  Leadenhall  Street. 

1st  Qui  hi.     "Well,  so  you  are  going  out  again .?" 

2nd  Qui  hi.  "Yes;  they  have  offered  me  a  com- 
missionership.  I  must  make  another  lac  for  the 
children." 

1st  Qui  hi.     "When  do  you  sail.?" 

2nd  Qui  hi.  "By  the  first  good  ship.  I  should 
like  a  good  ship." 


LOVE  ME  LONG  525 

1st  Qui  hi.  "Well,  then,  you  had  better  go  out  with 
Gentleman  Dodd." 

2nd  Qui  hi.  ''Gentleman  Dodd?  I  should  prefer 
Sailor  Dodd.     I  don't  want  to  founder  off  the  Cape." 

1st  Qui  hi.  "Oh!  but  this  is  a  first-rate  sailor,  and 
a  first-rate  fellow  altogether." 

2nd  Qui  hi.  "Then,  why  do  you  call  him  'Gen tie- 
man  Dodd'.?" 

1st  Qui  hi.  "Oh,  because  he  is  so  polite.  Won't 
stand  an  oath  within  hearing  of  his  quarter-deck;  and 
particularly  kind  and  courteous  to  the  passengers, 
especially  to  the  ladies.     His  ship  is  always  full." 

2nd  Qui  hi.  "Is  it?  then  I  '11  go  out  with  'Gentle- 
man Dodd.' 


TO  MY  MALE  READERS 

I  SEE  with  some  surprise  that  there  still  linger,  in  the 
field  of  letters,  writers  who  think  that,  in  fiction,  when 
a  personage  speaks  with  an  air  of  conviction,  the  senti- 
ments must  be  the  author's  own.  (When  two  of  his 
personages  give  each  other  the  lie,  which  represents 
the  author  ?  both  ?) 

I  invite  you  to  shun  this  error.  For  instance,  do 
not  go  and  take  Eve  Dodd's  opinion  of  my  heroine,  or 
Mrs.  Bazalgette's,  for  mine. 

Miss  Dodd,  in  particular,  however  epigrammatic 
she  may  appear  is  shallow;  her  criticism  peche  par  la 
base.  She  talks  as  if  young  girls  were  in  the  habit  of 
looking  into  their  own  minds,  like  little  metaphysicians, 
and  knowing  all  that  goes  on  there;  but,  on  the  contrary. 


K 


1.1 


526    LOVE  ME  LITTLE,  LOVE  ME  LONG 

this  is  just  what  women  in  general  don't  do,  and  young 
women  can't  do. 

No  male  will  understand  Lucy  Fountain  who  does 
not  take  ''instinct"  and  *' self-deception"  into  the 
account.  But  with  those  two  clues  you  cannot,  I  think, 
fail  to  unravel  her;  and  will,  I  hope,  thank  me  in  your 
hearts  for  leaving  you  something  to  study,  and  not 
clogging  a  languid  narrative  with  a  mass  of  comment 
and  explanation. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


NOV    4    1947 
FEB  27    1948 


t,\i^' 


/.*' 


AUG    71977 

SECC/R.JUI.6    77 


29Nov'55CT 
«N  STACKS 

OV  1 5  1955 
JAN  2 5 1956  LU 


OCT  111960 

LD  21-100m-12,'46(A2012si6)4120 


